Traditional Lao Instruments
The sound the khene makes is quite interesting. It's definitely Asian sounding in my point of view and would be a great addition to my composition as I would demonstrate the culture of the country I currently live in. Wikipedia says the khene creates a similar sound to that of the violin... I'm not so sure about that observation however as I believe the khene has a unique sound not similar to any other instrument I know of. | The KHENE (also spelled khaen) is the oldest Lao instrument, believed to have been used during the Lan Xang era (1357 - 1707) . The khene is a mouth organ with pipes made of bamboo. It is played through blowing through a hole. Multiple tones can be made simultaneously. The khene can be made in a particular key however after it's put together, it cannot be tuned. The khene can be played solo, in a classical orchestra or as an accompaniment to Lao folk songs. |
**There is a proverb that reads: "those who lives under a house on stilts, eats sticky rice and plays the khene must be Lao or associated with Lao people". So if I were to use the khaen as part of my recording, it would quite evidently be worthy of demonstrating culture and identity.
| The RA NAT, is a keyboard percussion instrument, is made of 22 wooden suspended by cords. Played with hard mallets, sharp and bright sounds are created. Played with soft mallets, there is a softer sound which is used in slower songs. During the monarchy era in Laos, the ra nat was used to entertain the king and queen. The instrument is often played in Lao, Khmer and Thai orchestras. |
There are many types of KONGs. They can be made of hard wood and animal skins or bronze. The older drums, called "Bronze Rain Drums" were made from bronze and had a little bronze frog on top of the drum. There is the belief that playing such drums would make it rain. Though widespread (across Southeast Asia), to the people of Lao PDR, the kong is a symbol of peace. This is because after Laos gained independence from France, the celebrations and festivals included the playing of the kong. | |
Traditional Burmese Instruments
- As a majority of the Burmese population were farmers, music was used to accompany the agricultural activities.
- Before Buddhism, the Burmese people worshiped nats (spirits). Music was part of rituals.
- When Buddhism spread through the country, devotees paid their respects through holding pagoda festivals which incorporated singing and dancing.
I've never actually experienced Burmese music, beyond the hymns sung at church and the beautiful harmonizing of my musically-talented extending family, so a look into some of the instruments will improve my understanding of what it means to be of Burmese blood.
The SAUNG_GUAK is an arched harp that dates back to the 2nd century and was of notable use during the Buddhist dynasties . It is now the national instrument of Burma.
The neck of the harp is the root of the sha tree that grows on a hillside. There are sixteen silk strings that are hand-twisted ending with a tassel that symbolizes a flower. The neck is gilded with gold, representing life, immortality and truth in Buddhist philosophy. The body of the harp is decorated with mica (Mandalay pearls). The harp is played through plucking the string with the right hand fingers, while the left hand fingers dampen the strings to improve clarity and produce staccato notes. | |
| Made with 18 or 19 brass gongs in a drum circle, the sound created is melodious. Interestingly, the gongs are tuned by the amount of beeswax inside. The gongs can either be played with mallets or with free fingers to create a dampened sound. There is also a drum ensemble (SAING WAING) that are displayed in a similar fashion. |
Traditional Canadian Instruments
One of the most important instruments from the earliest settlement days was the VIOLIN. The playing styles came through the immigrants from France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Britain. The FIDDLE was added with styles coming from the French Canadian, Scottish, Anglo-Canadian, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary and other areas of Europe. Other instruments that were used as an accompaniment to the fiddle and violin was the button accordion and harmonica. | |
| The HIGHLAND BAGPIPE came to Canada during the 18th century when many immigrants from Scotland settled in Nova Scotia and Upper Canada. The bagpipe was also used to rally troops on the battlefield during both world wars. The most numerous of European immigrants was from Ukraine. Today, they are the 9th largest ethnic group in Canada. |
Immigration to Canada in the late 19th century brought about a lot of Asians, as well as their instruments. The HUQIN is a Chinese fiddle with 2 strings and a bow between the strings. The DIZI is a transverse flute made of a singular bamboo piece. Chinese opera was a popular form of tradition, GONGS and CYMBALS both a large part of such performances. Another instrument worth mentioning is the YUEQIN, a plucked lute with a short neck and circular body made of wood. The name literally translates to 'moon qin'. | |