Mholamzang en khene / Sawjiangmaizang en pi-joomfluiten (Thailand)

Compared to the classical music tradition of Thailand, its ethnic popular music remains largely hidden. But in the north and north-east - on the border with China and Laos - traditional ensembles play a major part in cultural and daily life. The traditional music is a harmonious combination of voice and bamboo wind instruments. Music that can be very gentle and highly rhythmic, with the characteristic spoken singing and a lot of improvisation. Both 'mholam' and 'saw' are musical forms that are not only narrative but also healing and hypnotic. In the first part of this concert we hear a mouth-organ player - 'khen' - and a 'mholam' singer. 'Mholam' plays a crucial part in the oral traditions of the culture and tells of the history, religion, political and current affairs, and comical and popular legends. When accompanied by the mouth-organ - one of the oldest and most widespread instruments in Asia - the richness of this singing is displayed to the full. After this, a 'pi-joom' ensemble - pi is a collective name for bamboo flutes of different lengths - accompanies 'sawjiangmai' songs which are ceremonial in nature and are the poetic mouthpiece of the Buddhist farmers in this area. These songs often last a whole day and follow a fixed serial pattern. All box-office receipts for this concert will go to Tsunami 12-12.