Music of Laos

26/07/2020 Music of Laos - Wikipedia
Music of Laos
The music of Laos includes the music of the Lao people, a Tai ethnic group, and other ethnic groups
living in Laos. The traditional music of Laos has similarities with the traditional music of Thailand
and Cambodia, including the names of the instruments and influences and developments. To
categorize Lao music, it seems helpful to distinguish between the nonclassical folk traditions (which
are presented through the ensembles and instruments used within), the classical music traditions and
its basic ensembles, and vocal traditions.
The most popular form of music in Laos is the indigenous mor lam.
Contents
Classical music
Mor lam
Regional music of Laos
Luang Prabang
Vientiane
Champasak
Popular music
Instruments
References
External links
Classical music
The Lao term "peng Lao deum" (traditional Lao songs) describes the royal court music of Laos.
Historical records indicate that an indigenous classical tradition existed, which was mainly influenced
by ancient Khmer traditions and mountainous ethnic groups. King Fa Ngum was raised and educated
in Angkor Wat, so the Khmer traditions were the first center for the court music, which changed in
1828 when the Siamese sacked Vientiane and slowly infiltrated the musical traditions of the court as
well.
Today, the court music has mostly vanished. It was considered as "elitist, bourgeoisie" and forbidden
by the communist government, and the last performers in Tennessee, USA tried to rebuild the court
music in diaspora but failed due to a lack of members. The classical ensemble and its instruments still
get used in many Lao traditions today, are only used for the "lam" traditions and the only "theater"
like traditions "li-ke" (or "lam poem", from 1940) which immigrated from northern Siam, gets
performed with acting, storytelling in "lam" singing styles and a Khene mouth organ, thus remaining
the only theater tradition in Laos today.
Mor lam
Laotian mor lam (also spelled maw lam) is considered purer and more traditional than the forms
found in Thailand. It often features the khaen (bamboo and reed mouth organ) and jousting pairs of
singers, backed by colorful troupes, who improvise stories and courting duels. The material is often
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Laos 1/3
topical, colloquial, sexual and bawdy and is tolerated by the government even when sometimes it is
the object of some of the jokes.
Ensembles typically include two singers (mor lam, the same term
referring to the genre of music)— one male and one female—, a
khene player (mor khaen), and other instruments including fiddles,
flutes and bells. Music varies widely across Laos, with the lam
saravane style being most popular, while the city of Luang Prabang
is known for a slow form called khaplam wai. An extremely popular
form developed in Thailand is called mor lam sing, and is faster and
electrified.
Regional music of Laos

Each of these traditions is influenced by regional playing styles,
which can be separated in three different areas: Luang Prabang in
the north, Vientiane in the center, and Champassak in the south.
Luang Prabang
In Luang Prabang, classical Lao court music developed to high estate

and vanished. Unfortunately, most of the instruments are collecting
dust in the royal museum, but showpieces like bronze drums of the
Dong Son age show the influence of ethnic minorities which were A khene player in Isan.
often from the mountainous areas.
Vientiane
In Vientiane, the actual regional style shows Thai influences. The governmental school "Natasin"
which was closed 1975 was reopened 1990 and educates and provides some ensembles for festivals,
marriages and other purposes.
Champasak
The southern region of Champassak is not only influenced by Khmer traditions, but is typically a
mixture of Khmer, Thai and indigenous Lao traditions.
Popular music
In the 1960s, Thai lam nu and lam ploen contributed to the development of lam luang, which is a form
of song (and dance) which often has narrative lyrics.
Instruments
The most distinctive Lao musical instrument is a bamboo mouth organ called a khene. The
instrument was supposedly invented by a woman trying to imitate the calls of the garawek bird.
The woman took the new instrument to her king, and he told her it was fair, but that he wanted
more. She modified the instrument and he replied "Tia nee khaen dee" (this time it was better).
References
Clewley, John. "Beyond Our Khaen". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with
McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America,
Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 170–174. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-
85828-636-0.
External links
(in French) Audio clips: Traditional music of Laos. (http://www.ville-ge.ch/meg/musinfo_ph.php?wh
at=pays=Lao,%20R%E9publique%20d%E9mocratique%20populaire&debut=0&bool=AND)
Musée d'ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010.
The traditional music of Laos (http://www.istov.de/htmls/laos/laos_start.html)
Alexandra Bounxouei music and videos (https://web.archive.org/web/20080517053031/http://alex
andra.bounxouei.com/)
www.laomusic.la (http://laomusic.la)
www.laomall.com/artists (http://www.laomall.com/artists)
Archives of Traditional Music in Laos (http://www.culturalprofiles.net/laos/Units/398.html)
Lao music page (http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/culture/traditional_Music/music_intro.htm)
Plain of Jars website (http://www.plainofjars.net//dance.htm)
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This page was last edited on 28 December 2019, at 08:22 (UTC).
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26/07/2020 Music of Laos - Wikipedia

Regional music of Laos

In Luang Prabang, classical Lao court music developed to high estate

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Music_of_Laos&oldid=932801800"

This page was last edited on 28 December 2019, at 08:22 (UTC).

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