THE STORY OF THAILAND'S MUSIC

Today, the traditional instruments in "morlam" are replaced by electronic keyboards, bass, and a western-style drum-set. Large travelling shows have become popular since 1960s with modern style since 1970s. At karaoke bars in Bangkok, Isaan people can play a video CD of their favorite "morlam" performer. Track 10, by Pol Panlao `Amazing Isaan' gives a taste to the Isaan pride. As on this track, morlam can be fast-paced, with rapid phin playing, booming bass, surging organ, and drums with an incessant backbeat. Morlam may start with the wailing of `Oh, La Naw' (Oh, Fortune). This might be followed by a `rap' like chorus, which unlike western rap is melody-based.

ORIGIN of VARIOUS THAI MUSICS
An undiscovered beach is more likely to be on the average tourists' mind, than the undiscovered music. Which is a shame, because Thailand offers some of Asia's most pulsating sounds. Without having to try you're likely to encounter some local musics, such as small classical combo in a hotel or a Bangkok restaurant. If you're really lucky, you might even hear a traditional ensemble at a Buddhist temple, or more likely a tape that an orange robed Buddhist monk will gladly sell you. The traditional music can be spellbinding, and rather eerie, played on a variety of melodic and rhythmic percussion instruments, stringed and wind instruments.

'LUKTHUNG' MUSIC
Walk into most record stores, especially away from the tourist areas, and the shelves are filled with "lukthung", (meaning `child of the fields'), the central region `country' music. You might even hear the emotionally charged vocals of lukthung from the back of a taxi, or catch a concert on the TV by one of the big stars. In the late 1970s, a revolution occurred when composer and teacher of "lukthung", Wichien Khacharoen took a young female singer called Pompuang Duangchan under his wing. Wichien modernized the music with pop and rock rhythms and melodies. The lyrics shifted from stories of departing lovers from the countryside to sexually seductive themes. Presided over by Princess Sirindhon, over 150,000 of her fans participated in the largest public mourning of a commoner in Thailand's contemporary history.

Some predicted the death of "lukthung", but the legacy of Duangchan has inspired a new generation of lukthung singers. The annual temple fair from Wat Thapkradan, is televised live on national TV and attracts current top "lukthung" singers as well as staging a lukthung singing contest to the backing of Duangchan's songs.

PRESENT THAI MUSIC DEVELOPMENTS
Meanwhile, Thai girl and boy bands compete with their western and Japanese counterparts, blasting from speakers outside the local KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant). It's the sounds, however, from an area that very few visitors venture to, the northeast, Isaan, that is the hotbed of Thai music. Morlam is the traditional Laotian music, in its modern form rhythmically powerful and vocally dynamic. Morlam, in its various styles, is popular throughout Thailand with the many migrant workers.

KHMER MUSIC
The Thai meaning `free' were originally indigenous exiles from northern China who settled in the south of China about 2000 years ago. The similarities between Thai and Chinese music can probably be traced back to this time. As it became clear the Monguls would eventually conquer the whole of China, the Thai migrated south spreading into Laos, northern Vietnam and present day Thailand.

By 1450, the Thai had put an end to the Khmer kingdom after capturing Sukhotai from the Khmer. It was said that while the Thai conquered the Khmer, the Khmer civilized the Thai. It is believed the music of Khmer contained early remnants of early Indian music, and possibly Javanese music, too. The non-Chinese elements in Thai music are therefore likely to have derived through the Khmer.

Throughout the Ayuthaya period (1360-1767), musical styles, compositions, ensembles and instruments all emerged. The two stringed bowed "lute", the "so-duang" (track 16) was a common instrument in various ensembles from toward the end of this period until today in
classical and court music. Born in 1917, the female performer on this track Benjarong Thanakoset, was from a musical family, and was already teaching by the age of sixteen. She is now considered Thailand's greatest player of bowed string instruments.

Other instruments are believed to have originated with the Thai themselves, including the double reed instrument the "pi". The "pi phat", consisting of the "pi" together with melodic and rhythmic percussion instruments, is one of the earliest types of ensemble, represented on this album by Fong Nam (track 12). Under the guidance of American Bruce Gaston, Fong Nam are both the custodians of rare classical pieces, and known for modernizing the traditions in experimental styles. The Hong Nang Suite is traditional Buddhist funeral music, sorrowful but comforting the mourners.

KHAEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Probably the most important folk instrument is the bamboo mouth pipe organ, the "khaen", central to the sound of "morlam", the music of the Isaan region. Found in northern Thailand and Laos, the instrument consists of usually 14-long thin bamboo pipes, up to 4 feet in length, each producing its own fixed pitch.

To resonate the pipes, the instrument is held with two hands cupped around a mouthpiece into which air is blown and drawn. Above the mouthpiece, in each pipe a small round hole is cut. When a finger closes a hole, the air is forced up through the reed, and a pitch is sounded, the pipes sounding simultaneously depending on which holes are closed.

Traditional morlam ensembles also feature the "phin", a stringed lute, somewhat similar to the guitar, with between two and four strings, but typically three. Track 3, features a solo performance on the "phin", by Surasak Donchia, a virtuoso on the instrument.

MUSIC by THAI ELEPHANTS
To an unsuspecting listener, computer generated studio doctored idol pop, might sound less human than the incredible Thai Elephant Orchestra (track 5). From the Thai Elephant Conservation Center near Lampang, the elephants were taught to play specially designed musical instruments by composer Dave Soldier and the center co-founder `professor elephant' Richard Lair. *AJI

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