I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand from 2013 to 2015. I worked as a Primary Teacher Trainer and lived in Isaan, the rural northeast of the country. In these posts, you’ll find information relating to Peace Corps and things related to the program and agency, as well as official Peace Corps work from my time in Thailand. For Thailand specific information, check out the Thailand category.
When thinking about music and the musical history of a culture, of course you build from the instruments. Then you might move into classical music and folk music, and maybe some music from the 20th century. But what about the music of today? Isn’t that a part of the culture of a place as well? What is Thai music like today?
While Thailand certainly has it’s own classical music genres that originated with the royal courts about 800 years ago, and folk music, don’t think that there are no modern or international genres enjoyed here. If we move chronologically through the development of music in Thailand we next come to the proliferation of jazz in the 1930s. Jazz continues to hold a special place in Thailand’s musical repertoire as the King is not only a jazz saxophonist but a jazz composer as well.
One thing about Thailand and Thai people that they are extremely polite, particularly because of the value of saving face. I can’t say that I’ve heard anyone really curse or swear. However, that’s not to say that it is not a part of the language here. Check out this video of an American professor’s first time being cursed at in Bangkok.
Much like classical music in Europe at the time, Thai classical music was and is generally reserved for and enjoyed by the upper classes. However, that of course didn’t stop the commoners from using their local instruments to create their own musical stylings. Often this is referred to as folk music. There are three major genres of Thai folk music: luk thung (ลูกทุ่ง), mor lam (หมอลำ) and kantrum (กันตรึม).
There are three main categories of Thai instruments, with numerous examples in each category. All of those different instruments are used to create a wide variety of music. However, beginning in the royal courts about 800 years ago there were three main genres.
I have had my own experiences with tokay geckos in my house. Honestly, they kind of freak me out. This video has been making the rounds on my social media recently. Based on the women talking, it’s in Thailand, somewhere. Pretty much, one tokay has a snake coiled around it and another tokay comes to help. Watch the video to see if the defense was successful!
To have any conversation about music, I think you must begin with what is making the music as it is often the instruments and how they are used that will give a genre its unique sound.
Thai instruments fall into three main categories: string, percussion and wind instruments. Alternatively, instruments are divided into four categories based on how they are played: plucking, bowing, striking or blowing. Furthermore, many instruments are specific to certain regions of Thailand and are found predominantly in certain genres of music, but now I’m getting ahead of myself. Back to instruments. more “An Overview of Traditional Thai Instruments”
When you think of the culture of a place, what are the things that make up that culture? There are a lot of different things that might come to mind, but one thing that is a part of every culture is music. Humans beating out rhythms and singing are everywhere. However, each locale has their own interpretation and significance applied to music.
more “A Brief Introduction to Music in Thailand”
Outside of Chiang Mai, perhaps one of the most popular place for tourists to go in Northern Thailand is Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple. It was designed and created by Chalermchai Kosipipat after taking on the temple’s restoration in the late 20th century. The sculptures and paintings are heavy with symbolism. Check it out!
In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
After hanging out with my friends in Khao Koh, Petchabun, I made my way northwards. I had plans to meet with my friends Mamie, Sasha-Noel, Mayumi and Yee in Chiang Mai for Songkran, or the Thai New Year celebration. Last year, I spent Songkran in my village, honoring the elders and playing with the kids. But before heading to Chiang Mai, one of the biggest Songkran celebration spots in the country, I stopped over in Chiang Rai to explore the temples there.