Thailand's Traditional Music

Thai people, perhaps along with Filippinos, are among the best musicians in Asia. No matter what your taste in music, you will find something you like.

Traditional Thai music is played on an array of nearly 50 kinds of musical instruments including strings, flutes, drums and gongs. It is most often a part of festivals, marriage ceremonies, funerals and other special Thai occasions. One good place to experience it is at the National Theater on Ratchadamnoen Road in Bangkok (Tel: 02-224-1342). You can also find it at cultural shows.

Mor Lam is the music of the large Laotian speaking community of Issan. The powerful rhythms and emotional vocals are replete with a cry and crackle of the voice. While the music is played with western instruments, traditional instruments have not been forgotten and are a part of most bands (for example the khaen, a flute type instrument).

Dancers, dressed in anything from traditional Thai clothing to racey go-go type gear, are also a feature of most shows. Chalermphol Malaikham and Jintara Poonlarp are key figures in this genre.

The Khmer speaking community of Thailand is much smaller than the Laotian speaking community, so their music, called kantrum, is not as well known. A singer named "Darkie", who recently passed away, is probably the best know person is this genre.

Thai folk music, or Mor Lum, has as Issan variety and a Central Thai variety. Some well know signers are Reungrot Phetthongchai, Satthit Thongjan and Chalermpon Malakham. The Central version of Mor Lum is similar to its Issan cousin, but there is more often a featured singer. Mor Lum is frequently heard on the radio too.

Thai country music is called Pleng Luuk Thung. It is kind of a combination of Mor Lum and American country music and is popular in Central Thailand. It is very common to hear this kind of music on Thai radio. Pompuang Duanjan, who died in 1992, was the first big start of this genre, which has survived her death and is more popular than ever.

There is a variety of music that Thais call "String." It is the bubblegum music of Thai teenagers. If you catch any Thai TV at all, you will see a teenie bopper concert with "String" music. Figures here (most come and go pretty quickly) include Tata Young and Asanee & Wasan.

There is also a genre called Songs for Life (pleng phua cheewit). These bands are kind of folk or country rock with political overtones. Bands include Carabao, Caravan and singer Pongsit Kamphee.