thai classical music angkalung ensemble

artist: thai classical music angkalung ensemble
album: ยะวา (yawa)
tracklist:
01. มโนราห์ลุยไฟ (manora lui fai)
02. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
03. ลาวครวญ (lao khruan)
04. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
05. สร้อยแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
06. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
07. ลาวคำหอม (lao kham hom)
08. ยะวา (yawa)
09. ลาวกระแซ (lao krasae)
10. ลาวเจริญศรี (lao charoen si)
11. แขกอาหวัง (khaek a wang)
12. แสนคำนึง (saen kham nueng)

bit of a curiosity this week, we've got some old thai-style javanese music! the instrument featured here is the indonesian angklung (อังกะลุง (angkalung) in thai), a set of tuned bamboo rattles. the angklung was brought to thailand in the early 1900s by thai composer luang pradit phairo, following a royal visit to java in the entourage of his patron prince woradet. upon return, pradit adapted the instrument to the local tuning system, and it became a popular favourite. in the latter half of the century, it came to be a staple for school bands, much in the manner of handbell choirs in the u.s. or u.k.. the songs on here are mostly based on thai classical melodies, and backed up by a nice band, full of drums & a bit of electric organ. very cool!