prof. dr. uthit naksawat: phleng prakop kan fon ram

artist: ศ.จ. ดร. อุทิศ นาคสวัสดิ์ (prof. dr. uthit naksawat)
album: เพลงประกอบการฟ้อนรำ (phleng prakop kan fon ram)
tracklist:
01. ปี่กลองแทงวิสัย (pi klong thaeng wisai)
02. รำสะระหม่าแขก (ram sarama khaek)
03. ปี่ชวากลองแขก-กระบี่-กระบองและฟันดาบ (pi chawa klong khaek ; krabi ; krabong lae fan dap)
04. ระบำจีน (rabam chin)
05. รำพม่ามอญ (ram phama mon)
06. รำโดม (ญวนรำกระถาง) (ram dom (yuan ram krathang))
07. รำบำญวน (ram bam yuan)
08. ญวนทีโห่ (yuan thi ho)

this week, some excellent thai classical music from prof. dr. uthit naksawat! a pioneer of thai musicology, dr. uthit was also a prominent radio and television host and agricultural economist. a student of both phraya phumisewin (chit chittasewi) and luang pradit phairo (son sinlapabanleng), he mastered a range of instruments and performance styles. this cassette was released on his private label (hong at siang naksawat, "naksawat studio"), and most likely dates from the 1970s, as in the early '80s, dr. uthit began to suffer severe health problems, passing away in 1982 at the age of 59. these recordings features pieces that would traditionally accompany dance performances, with a variety of different ensemble types and foreign accents.. enjoy! 

khana duriyapranit: phleng sip song phasa

artist: คณะ ดุริยประณีต (khana duriyapranit)
album: เพลงสิบสองภาษา (phleng sip song phasa)
tracklist:
01. เทพนิมิตร (thep nimit)
02. ออกเพลงเร็ว (ok phleng raeo)
03. กราวนอก แขกเงาะ จีน (krao nok, khaek ngo, chin)
04. เขมร (khamen)
05. กราวตลุง (krao talung)
06. ลาว (lao)
07. แขก (khaek)
08. มอญ (mon)
09. พม่า (phama)
10. ญวน (yuan)
11. ฝรั่ง (farang)
12. บรเทศ (borathet)

this week, an amazing recording of the thai classical "12 language"-suite! played in the boisterous hard-malleted piphat style, this performance features a range of tunes in different 'accents' (that is, melodies of a foreign origin), not 'languages', per se.. and also not necessarily 'twelve' (a number chosen for auspicious reasons.. this particular recording appears to claim thai, khmer, lao, malay, mon, burmese, vietnamese, and english), and is strongly, but not exclusively, associated with funerary traditions. in the past, performances would occasionally include comic actors miming out ethnic stereotypes associated with said cultures, though this is becoming less common (for obvious reasons). our performers are the illustrious duriyapranit ensemble of ban bang lamphu, led by sutchit duriyapranit [pictured], with vocalists chaeng khlaisithong and somchai thapphon contributing. enjoy!

piphat mon large ensemble led by a. khao chantrong: mon rong hai

artist: ปี่พาทย์มอญวงใหญ่ ควบคุมวงโดย อ. ขาว จันทร์ตรง (piphat mon large ensemble led by a. khao chantrong)
album: มอญร้องไห้ (mon rong hai)
tracklist:
01. มอญยกศพ (mon yok sop)
02. เชิญศพ (choen sop)
03. ประจำวัด (pracham wat)
04. ประจำบ้าน (pracham ban)
05. มอญร้องไห้ (ร้อง) (mon rong hai (vocal))
06. ดาวกระจ่าง (dao krachang)
07. จุดธูป-จุดเทียน (chut thup - chut thian)

this week, beautiful music for the recently deceased! rather than being associated specifically with the mon communities in thailand or across the border in burma's mon state, piphat mon refers to a style of ensemble that has long since been incorporated into the larger thai classical repertoire, and today is heard most often accompanying funeral ceremonies. this cassette is a bit of a stand-out in my collection of piphat mon for its lone vocal selection [track 5]: most of my cassettes featuring this sort of music are instrumental, and i find the mournful voices here create a remarkable atmosphere that i have to say complements quite well our eerie halloween season here in the united states. enjoy!

preview:

anong sithaiphan & bunchu thongchuea: piphat (rong) lao krathop mai

artist: อนงค์ ศรีไทยพันธุ์ + บุญชู ทองเชื้อ (anong sithaiphan & bunchu thongchuea)
album: ปี่พาทย์ (ร้อง) ลาวกระทบไม้ (piphat (rong) lao krathop mai)
tracklist:
01. ลาวกระทบไม้ (lao krathop mai)
sung by อนงค์ ศรีไทยพันธุ์ (anong sithaiphan)
02. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
sung by อนงค์ ศรีไทยพันธุ์ (anong sithaiphan)
03. ลาวดวงดอกไม้ (lao duang dok mai)
sung by บุญชู ทองเชื้อ (bunchu thongchuea)
04. แขกสาหร่าย (khaek sarai)
sung by บุญชู ทองเชื้อ (bunchu thongchuea)
05. ฟ้อนม่าน (มุ่ยเซียงตา) (fon man (mui siang ta))
sung by อนงค์ ศรีไทยพันธุ์ (anong sithaiphan)
06. ฟ้อนเงี้ยว (fon ngiao)
sung by บุญชู ทองเชื้อ (bunchu thongchuea)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, some fantastic vocal-piphat music! our singers are two luminaries of the classical music scene in the thai capitol: bunchu, daughter of master krachang thongchuea, has sung with many of the foremost piphat groups of recent times. anong is also the daughter of a famed musician, chamnian sithaiphan, and is known for her work with a great many bangkok-based ensembles including the government public relations department orchestra. with their illustrious, varied careers and lack of attribution on the packaging, i unfortunately can't tell you much about the instrumentalists here today, other than that they are great.. so, enjoy!

preview:

prathuam sukhothai: lae rueang phra chao achattasattru

artist: ประทวน สุโขทัย (prathuam sukhothai)
album: แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru)
tracklist:
01. แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู ตอน 1 (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru, vol. 1)
02. แหล่ เรื่อง พระเจ้าอชาตศัตรู ตอน 2 (lae rueang phra chao achattasattru, vol. 2)

in the hopes that everyone will pardon a long holiday break, we're back today with a personal favorite of mine: fantastic lae from prathuam sukhothai! this one is a bit unique in my collection: i've heard plenty of completely unadorned lae, and plenty of pop-lae (à la waiphot phetsuphan), but i haven't heard much of this particular style; with a half-sung/half-chanted vocal line and piphat backing. the text, written by achan khaemthong, concerns the story from the samaññaphala sutta of king achattasattru (ajatashatru), an early buddhist convert. no biographical info about mr. prathuam was forthcoming, so if you have any please share! in the meantime.. enjoy!

preview:

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 2

artist: น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 2 (tham khwan nak 2)
tracklist:
01. สอนนาค (son nak)
02. พระสุริยง (phra suriyong)
03. อวยพรนาค (uai phon nak)
04. บายศรี (bai si)
05. เชิญขวัญนาค (choen khwan nak)
06. บายศรีเวียนเทียน (bai si wian thian)
07. ชูชกสองกุมาร (chuchok song kuman)
08. ฉ่อยเรื่องชูชก (choi rueang chu chok)
09. มัทรีกลับจากป่า (matri klap chak pa)
10. มัทรีตัดพ้อ (matri tat pho)
11. พาชูชกชมนก (pha chuchok chom nok)
12. อวยพรลา (uai phon la)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have part 2 of namphueng phet-uthai and her group's excellent ceremonial sounds! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin & thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. the group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. while the first side finds them backed by the "78 sound" piphat ensemble as in part 1, the second side finds accompaniment paired down to a more drum-and-fiddle-based group. enjoy!

preview:

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 1

artist(s): น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 1 (tham khwan nak 1)
tracklist:
01. ปาริตะวา (paritawa)
02. เชิญเทพยุดา (choen thepphayuda)
03. เคารพพระคุณ (khaorop phra khun)
04. กำเนิดนาค (kamnoet nak)
05. โศรกสะเดาโยง (เจ็บท้องคลอด) (sok sadao yong (chep thong khlot))
06. หมอตำแยทำคลอด (mo tamyae tham khlot)
07. กล่อมนาค (klom nak)
08. พระคุณ พ่อ แม่ (phra khun pho mae)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have some excellent ceremonial sounds from namphueng phet-uthai and her group! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin and thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. her prayuk group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, backed by the piphat ensemble "78 sound", performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. unlike many tapes, where i've stumbled across a random numbered volume on its lonesome, cliff managed to secure both parts of this set, so next week we'll hear the second half.. enjoy, and stay tuned!

preview:

dontri thai doem ngan buat nak

artist: อ. ประสิทธิ์ นครพนม (a. prasit nakhonphanom)
album: ดนตรีไทยเดิม งานบวชนาค (dontri thai doem ngan buat nak)
tracklist:
01. งานบวช (โหมโรงเย็น) (ngan buat - homrong yen)
02. โกนหัวนาค (ลงสรง) (kon hua nak - long song)
03. รับพระ (เช้า) (rap phra - chao)
04. ส่งพระ (สองไม้) (song phra - song mai)
05. มหาฤกษ์ (maharoek)
06. เพลงเชิด (phleng choet)
07. จุดธูป (สาธุการ) (chut thup - sathukan)
08. เข้าพิธีทำขวัญนาค (เหาะ) (khao phithi tham khwan nak - ho)
09. เวียนเทียนทำขวัญนาค (wian thian tham khwan nak)
10. เจิมหน้านาคเสร็จพิธี (กราวในเชิด) (choem na nak set phithi - krao nai choet)

a few weeks back, we had a lae-pop album from achan prasit nakhonphanom; today we find him leading an even more explicitly religious project; a cassette intended to soundtrack (or document?) the proceedings of a thai buddhist ordination ceremony! the music consists of an uncredited piphat ensemble running through instrumental pieces that correspond with the stages of the ceremony; music to accompany the tonsure, procession around the temple, and all the rites associated with entering monkhood. enjoy!

khana sak sinlapin: tonchabap klong yao

artist(s): คณะ ศักดิ์ศิลปิน (khana sak sinlapin)
album: ต้นฉบับกลองยาว (tonchabap klong yao)
tracklist:
01. โห่สามลาแห่กลองยาว (ho sam la hae klong yao)
02. กลองยาวระทึกใจ (klong yao rathuek chai)
03. กลองยาวไพรสวรรค์ (klong yao phrai sawan)
04. กลองยาวบันดาลสุข (klong yao bandan suk)
05. กลองยาวสนุกสนาน (klong yao sanuksanan)
06. กลองยาวสำราญชื่น (klong yao samran chuen)
07. กลองยาวรื่นเริง (klong yao ruen roeng)
08. กลองยาวบันเทิงใจ (klong yao banthoeng chai)
09. โห่สามลาแห่กลองยาวผสมปี่พาทย์ (ho sam la hae klong yao phason piphat)
10. โยคีจำแลง (yokhi chamlaeng)
11. พม่ากลองยาว (phama klong yao)
12. กลองยาวผสมปี่ชวา (klong yao phasom pi chawa)
13. พม่ารำขวาน (phama ram khwan)

given the festive time of year that's underway, in much of mainland southeast asia, it seemed only right to share this classic album of what is possibly thai music's quintessential sound of celebration; the rhythms of the klong yao (long drum) troupe! although the artists go uncredited on the cassette, i feel confident enough to say that they are the sak sinlapin group, who made several recordings for the sri krung label in the 1970s. from the heavy percussion, yodels, cheers & hollers to the humorous call & response choruses, everything on here spells a good time. interestingly, the second side even finds some piphat orchestration added to the mix. enjoy & happy new year!

preview:

phleng thai yot niyom banleng duai piphat mon

artist: สมาน กาญจนะผลิน (saman kanchanaphalin)
album: เพลงไทยยอดนิยม บรรเลงด้วยปี่พาทย์มอญ (phleng thai yot niyom banleng duai piphat mon)
tracklist:
01. ทะเลบ้า (thale ba)
02. อิเหนารำพึง (inao ramphueng)
03. สัญญารัก (sanya rak)
04. เกิดมาอาภัพ (koet ma aphap)
05. ม่านมงคล (man mongkhon)
06. เดียวดาย (dieow dai)
07. ลมจ๋าลม (lom cha lom)
08. ลอยลำพร่ำรัก (loi lam phram rak)
09. จำใจจำจาก (cham chai cham rak)
10. วิหคเหิรลม (wihok hoen lom)
11. บทเรียนก่อนวิวาห์ (bot rian kon wiwa)
12. พ่อแง่ แม่งอน (pho ngae, mae ngon)
13. คำคน (kham khon)
14. ความรักเจ้าขา (khwam rak chao kha)
15. นกเขาคูรัก (nok khao khu rak)
16. ลืมไม่ลง (luem mai long)
17. ชีวิตเมื่อคิดไป (chiwit muea khit pai)
18. พรพี่ (phon phi)

today! a great, unusual offering from suntharaphon bandleader saman kanchanaphalin. while most famous for the many big band pop tunes he's written for various jazz-age bangkok balladeers, we've also heard saman playing a selection of classical tunes on the marimba. on this cassette it's something like a reversal on that theme, with the music accompaniment shifted to a classical instrumentation, and the song selection more modern. enjoy!

preview:

chinnakon klong yao

artist: ชินกร ไกรลาศ (chinnakon krailat)

album: ชินกรกลองยาว (chinnakon klong yao)

tracklist:

01. ชินกรกลองยาว (chinnakon klong yao)

02. กลองยาวชินกร (klong yao chinnakon)

03. บ้านไร่น่ารัก (ban rai na rak)

04. เพชรร่วงในสลัม (phet ruang nai slum)

05. คืนนี้พี่ไม่กลับบ้าน (khuen ni phi mai klap ban)

06. ยอยศพระลอ (yo yot phra lo)

07. ลูกทุ่งเสี่ยงเทียน (luk thung siang thian)

08. เพชรฆาตใจ (phetchakhat chai)

09. น้ำตาใจ (nam ta chai)

10. ฟ้าแปลงนาง (fa plaeng nang)

this week, a sampling of national artist chinnakon krailat's brilliant career! dr. chinnakon's work was some of the most successful blending of pop music with influences from thailand's broad variety of folk & art musics. after starting out as a ramwong singer in his home province of sukhothai, chinnakon was picked up by "modernized music" impresario phayong mukda, with whom he made his most famous recordings. this tape has some great, dance-able drum & organ driven numbers, but my favorite is the beautiful "yo yot phra lo" with its piphat orchestra backing. enjoy!

preview:

khana tapphonwathit: piphat mon

artist: คณะ ทับพรวาทิต (khana tapphonwathit)

album: ปี่พาทย์มอญ (piphat mon)

tracklist: 

01. พม่าใหญ่ (phama yai)

02. พม่าเล็ก (phama lek)

03. พม่ากลาง (phama klang)

04. อรุณนิมิต (arun nimit)

this week, some great mon-style piphat music! rather than being associated specifically with any of the numerous mon communities in thailand or across the border in burma's mon state, piphat mon refers to a style of ensemble that has long since been incorporated into the larger thai classical repertoire, and is heard most often in funeral ceremonies. our players on this cassette are the tapphonwathit ensemble, led here by national artist kalong phuengthongkham, performing a selection of mostly burmese-accented compositions. beautiful music, enjoy!

preview:

khunphaen lukprachin & namphueng boribun

artist: ขุนแผน ลูกปราจีน + น้ำผึ้ง บริบูรณ์ (khunphaen lukprachin & namphueng boribun)

album: ทำขวัญนาคชุดสมบูรณ์แบบ ชุดที่ 1 (tham khwan nak chut sombun baep, vol. 1)

tracklist:

01. ทำขวัญนาคชุดสมบูรณ์แบบ ชุดที่ 1 ตอน 1 (tham khwan nak chut sombun baep, vol. 1, pt. 1)

02. ทำขวัญนาคชุดสมบูรณ์แบบ ชุดที่ 1 ตอน 2 (tham khwan nak chut sombun baep, vol. 1, pt. 2)

this week: a great recording of sacred music, featuring the talents of former luk thung star namphueng boribun! ms. namphueng was a protégé of famed songwriter & bandleader phiphat boribun, and wife to luk thung rockstar suang santi. after her husband's tragic death, however, she moved away from pop songs... she partnered with khunphaen lukprachin, and together they were known as "king & queen of tham khwan". tham khwan is the traditional ceremony for binding the spirit to the body, typically performed at important junctures of life (leaving home, getting married, etc.) this particular tape features the music of a tham khwan intended for young men about to become novice monks. it's a little old & battered, with a couple dropouts and a bit of mechanical noise, but it's still a fantastic document... enjoy!

namphueng phetuthai & her group: anisong kathin phapa, pts. 1 & 2

artist: คณะ น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย (namphueng phetuthai & her group)
album: อนิสงค์ กฐิน ผ้าป่า ตอน 1 & 2 (anisong kathin phapa, pts. 1 & 2)
tracklist:
01. โห่ 3 ลากลองยาว (ho 3 la klong yao)
02. สักเค พลโต (sak khe phon to)
03. โห่ 3 ลา (ho 3 la)
04. เคารพผู้มีพระคุณ (khaorop phu mi phra khun)
05. ประวัติการทอดกฐิน (prawattikan thot kathin)
06. ชวนทอดกฐิน (chuan thot kathin)
07. ดาวจรเข้ (dao chorakhe)
08. อตินยขานทอดกฐิน (atinyakhan thot kathin)
09. ประวัติการทอดผ้าป่า (prawattikan thot phapa)
10. บายศรีเจ้าเงาะรจนา (bai si chao ngo rotchana)

this week we have some great old festival music by namphueng phetuthai & her group! the band includes suwan kaeonam, laiat lukuthai & sangwian miluenan, and though i've seen their cassettes stocked by a number of sacred music purveyors around bangkok, i haven't been able to find out a thing about them! i can however, tell you a bit about the music they are playing.. this tape is a soundtrack to the popular thot kathin & thot phapa festivals, two merit-making ceremonies which revolve around a community presenting new robes to their local monks. the recording begins with some unmistakable klong yao yodeling & long drum march. after a few tracks, namphueng shows up and sings about the festival happenings, with some beautiful piphat ensemble backing, and it all comes to a close with a raucous phin-driven klong yao finale. fantastic!

klong yao klong suek

performers: unknown
album: กลองยาวกลองศึก (klong yao klong suek)
tracklist:
01. กลองยาวกลองศึก (klong yao klong suek)
02. กลองยาวระทึกใจ (klong yao rathuek chai)
03. กลองยาวไพรสวรรค์ (klong yao phrai sawan)
04. กลองยาวบันดาลสุข (klong yao ban dan suk)
05. กลองยาวสนุกสนาน (klong yao sanuksanan)
06. โห่ 3 ลากลองยาวประยุกต์ (ho 3 la klong yao prayuk)
07. กลองยาวสำราญชื่น (klong yao samran chuen)
08. กลองยาวรื่นเริง (klong yao ruenroeng)
09. กลองยาวบันเทิงใจ (klong yao banthoeng chai)
10. กลองยาวแห่บวชนาค (klong yao hae buat nakh)
11. กลองยาวผสมปี่ชวา (klong yao phasom pi java)
12. โห่ 3 ลากลองยาวผสมปี่พาทย์ (ho 3 la klong yao phasom piphat)

this week we have a great thai folk beat recording! named for their lead instrument, the thai long drum, klong yao ensembles have long been an important fixture in local culture. a staple of village fairs both religious & secular, the marching klong yao troupe provides a indispensably raucous soundtrack to the festivities. replete with call & responses choruses, clattering drums, persistent cymbals, all manner of yodels, screeches, hollers and so on, it's hard to miss the appeal of this enduring phenomenon. originally thought of as a central thai form, klong yao has long since diffused throughout the kingdom, mixing along the way with a myriad of regional styles. unfortunately i don't know much about this particular recording; the group performing goes uncredited on the cassette.. joined in places by horn sections, electric organ & guitar, and even thai classical instruments, they seem to be inspired by the ประยุกต์ (prayuk), or "applied" folksong movement, similar to the recently-anthologized "shadow music" genre. enjoy the big drums!

khana hua fai samakhkhi: dontri phuen mueang chiang mai, vol. 2

band: คณะ หัวฝายสามัคคี (khana hua fai samakhkhi)
album: ดนตรีพื้นเมืองเชียงใหม่ 2 (dontri phuen mueang chiang mai, vol. 2)
tracklist:
01. ลงผีมด (long phi mot)
a. ผีมดห้อยผ้า (phi mot hoi pha)
b. เพลงน้อยบ่าเก่า (phleng noi ba kao)
c. ผีมดกิ๋นน้ำมะพร้าว (phi mot kin nam maphrao)
d. เพลงฟันดาบ (phleng fan dap)
02. เพลงตีมวย (phleng ti muay)

from the northern city of chiang mai, successor of the ancient lanna kingdom, we have music for ghosts & music for pugilists. the group is a ปี่พาทย์พื้นเมือง (piphat phuen mueang), an ensemble specific to northern thailand. the first side is music for a yearly dance ceremony held during the rainy season to satisfy the ghosts of ancestors. traditionally this event would feature a great amount of eating, drinking, dancing, and spiritual possession, culminating in the killing of a chicken and divining of its entrails.. i can't speak with authority on the matter, but i imagine nowadays the festival has been condensed into a routine geared towards outside observers, and likely omits the more gruesome aspects. the second side is music which accompanies the world-famous muay thai boxing. busy horns, drums, cymbals & metallophones abound!