Music of Thailand

The folk music of Thailand is influenced by India and to a lesser degree by China. Like its geography, the music of Thailand is divided into four regions with each region having their own distinctive style and flavor. Music is performed primarily as entertainment in connection with Buddhist festivals. These field recordings were made by Howard Kaufman in the 1950s. He noted that the traditional music of Thailand was beginning to vanish due, in part, to the “westernization” of the country.

Track Listing

101	Suksanaen	Can (reed mouth organ) player	01:25
102	Can Solo	Male singer accompanied by can (reed mouth organ) player	03:57
103	Song	Female singer, unaccompanied	04:13
104	Girl's Song	Young girl accompanied by can (reed mouth organ) player	03:06
105	Chakay and Ching (Instrumental)	Mahori ensemble featuring chakay (crocodile zither), ching (cymbals)	01:57
106	Phlengchoi (Repartee Singing)	Male and female singer with chorus, percussion	03:02
107	Folksong (North Thailand)	Female singer, unaccompanied	02:12
108	Pamahei (Classical Style)	Female singer, unaccompanied	03:30
201	Rotchanasangtaung (Percussion Orchestra)	Piphat ensemble	02:04
202	Festive Music	Processional ensemble featuring Malay drum, pi java (clarinet), vocalist	02:00
203	Phrayasok	Saw sam sai (three-stringed violin) player	03:05
204	Laoduangdoen	Mahori ensemble and female singer	03:00
205	Chatree (South Thailand)	Piphat ensemble and female singer	03:39
206	Khmensayok (Instrumental Group)	Angklung ensemble with tapone drum and chop cymbals	03:29
207	Angtalung (South Thailand)	Angklung ensemble with oboe, wood-block percussion, male vocalist	03:49
208	Reed Orchestra (North Thailand)	Brass-reed flute ensemble and female singer	03:03