Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The capital and largest city is Bangkok. Thailand has a population of around 64 million people, most of whom are ethnically Tai and follow Buddhism. The country has a constitutional monarchy with King Rama IX as the head of state. Traditional Thai music is influenced by India, China and neighboring countries. It includes classical and folk music, with folk music varying between different regions. Characteristics of Thai music include the layering of rhythms and pitches rather than harmony, as well as a pentatonic scale and emphasis on the final beat.

1. Group 1Group 1
Geography and HistoryGeography and History
of Thailandof Thailand

2. GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY
 Thailand is the world's Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country51st-largest country in terms of in terms of
total area, with an area of approximately 513,000total area, with an area of approximately 513,000
kmkm22
(198,000 sq mi), and is the (198,000 sq mi), and is the
20th-most-populous country20th-most-populous country, with around 64 million, with around 64 million
people. The capital and largest city is people. The capital and largest city is BangkokBangkok, which is, which is
Thailand's political, commercial, industrial and culturalThailand's political, commercial, industrial and cultural
hub. About 75% of the population is ethnically hub. About 75% of the population is ethnically TaiTai, 14% , 14%
Thai ChineseThai Chinese, and 3% is ethnically , and 3% is ethnically MalayMalay;;[1][1]
the rest the rest
belong to minority groups including belong to minority groups including MonsMons, , KhmersKhmers and and
various various hill tribeshill tribes. The country's official language is . The country's official language is ThaiThai..
The primary religion is The primary religion is BuddhismBuddhism, which is practiced by, which is practiced by
around 95% of the population.around 95% of the population.

4. Borders of ThailandBorders of Thailand
 To the north: Laos and BurmaTo the north: Laos and Burma
 To the east: Burma and CambodiaTo the east: Burma and Cambodia
 To the south: Gulf of Thailand andTo the south: Gulf of Thailand and
MalaysiaMalaysia
 To the west: Andaman Sea and southernTo the west: Andaman Sea and southern
extremity of Burmaextremity of Burma
 Its maritime boundaries includeIts maritime boundaries includeVietnamVietnam in the in the
Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and IndonesiaIndonesia
and and IndiaIndia in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.

7. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW

8. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Central
Plain

9. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Mountain of North-
West Thailand
The Central
Plain

10. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Mountain of North-
West Thailand
The Central
Plain
North-east Thailand
(The Khorat Plateau)
or I-san

11. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Mountain of North-
West Thailand
The Central
Plain
South-east Thailand
North-east Thailand
(The Khorat Plateau)
or I-san

12. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Mountain of North-
West Thailand
The Central
Plain
Southern Thailand
South-east Thailand
North-east Thailand
(The Khorat Plateau)
or I-san

13. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
The Mountain of North-
West Thailand
The Central
Plain
Southern Thailand
South-east Thailand
North-east Thailand
(The Khorat Plateau)
or I-san
Isthmus of
Kra

14. N
W
S
E
SW SE
NENW
Isthmus of
Kra
An isthmus
is a narrow
piece of
land with
water on
each side
which joins
two larger
areas of
land.

15. GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT
 The country is a The country is a constitutional monarchyconstitutional monarchy,,
headed by King Rama IX, the ninth king ofheaded by King Rama IX, the ninth king of
the House of Chakri, who, having reignedthe House of Chakri, who, having reigned
since 1946, is the world's longest-since 1946, is the world's longest-
serving head of state and the serving head of state and the longest-longest-
reigning monarch reigning monarch in Thai history. The kingin Thai history. The king
of Thailand is titled Head of State, Head ofof Thailand is titled Head of State, Head of
the Armed Forces, Adherent of Buddhism,the Armed Forces, Adherent of Buddhism,
and Upholder of religions.and Upholder of religions.

16. VOCAL MUSIC OF THAILANDVOCAL MUSIC OF THAILAND

17.  Songs and singing activities are highlySongs and singing activities are highly
important in Thailand.important in Thailand.
 Thai music is written in various genres toThai music is written in various genres to
suit particular occasion.suit particular occasion.
 They are the principal means ofThey are the principal means of
expression in entertainment.expression in entertainment.

18. RITUAL SONGSRITUAL SONGS
 Suod - The chanting of religious versesSuod - The chanting of religious verses
that is used to worship spiritual andthat is used to worship spiritual and
supernatural beings. The verse aresupernatural beings. The verse are
transmitted through oral tradition.transmitted through oral tradition.
 Thes – Ritual songs that are performedThes – Ritual songs that are performed
with improvisations that is learned bywith improvisations that is learned by
memory.memory. Not held as sacred as suod canNot held as sacred as suod can
be used in poetic reading, recitation, andbe used in poetic reading, recitation, and
speech.speech.

19. ENTERTAINMENT SONGSENTERTAINMENT SONGS
 Used to tell stories of customs andUsed to tell stories of customs and
traditions.traditions.
EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:
 PLAENG KLONDACK - The nurseryPLAENG KLONDACK - The nursery
rhymes with irregular rhythmrhymes with irregular rhythm
 PLAENG BORK - Songs for male singerPLAENG BORK - Songs for male singer
that tell stories and news.that tell stories and news.
- Has a fixed musical- Has a fixed musical
form.form.

20. ENTERTAINMENT SONGSENTERTAINMENT SONGS
 SEBHA - Popular in Thailand.SEBHA - Popular in Thailand.
- Has a fixed of 8 words per line.- Has a fixed of 8 words per line.
- A pair of wooden sticks known- A pair of wooden sticks known
as KRAB is used to mark rhythmicas KRAB is used to mark rhythmic
pattern.pattern.
- Combination of three- Combination of three
communication aspects singing, speakingcommunication aspects singing, speaking
and praying.and praying.

21. KRABKRAB
-- a pair of wooden sticks used to marka pair of wooden sticks used to mark
rhythmic patternrhythmic pattern

22. ENTERTAINMENT SONGSENTERTAINMENT SONGS
HAE RUEA -HAE RUEA - Boat song sung followingBoat song sung following
the rhythm of the oarsmen.the rhythm of the oarsmen.
AEWKLOASAW -AEWKLOASAW - Song sung with aSong sung with a
string instrument called saw asstring instrument called saw as
accompaniment.accompaniment.
SANGKHARA - Beggar’s music that hasSANGKHARA - Beggar’s music that has
been adapted for the puppet play calledbeen adapted for the puppet play called
HUN KRABORK.HUN KRABORK.

23. DISTINCT AND UNIQUEDISTINCT AND UNIQUE
MUSIC OF THAILANDMUSIC OF THAILAND

24. CONTENTSCONTENTS
 InfluencesInfluences
 ClassificationClassification
 CharacteristicsCharacteristics
 Characteristics of ThaiCharacteristics of Thai
musicmusic

25. INFLUENCESINFLUENCES
INDIAINDIA
CHINACHINA
CAMBODIACAMBODIA
BURMABURMA
LAOSLAOS

26. ORAL CULTUREORAL CULTURE
•““Knowledge”Knowledge”
according toaccording to
Buddhism, is aBuddhism, is a
“frozen“frozen
Dharmasastra…” orDharmasastra…” or
a fully developed yeta fully developed yet
static system of thestatic system of the
right formulas andright formulas and
appropriate rules.appropriate rules.
•Music and religionMusic and religion
are interlinked.are interlinked.
•It was based on theIt was based on the
same fundamentalsame fundamental
tenets.tenets.

27. TRADITIONAL THAI MUSICTRADITIONAL THAI MUSIC
FOLK MUSICFOLK MUSIC
 Extensively used byExtensively used by
people in the villages.people in the villages.
CLASSICAL MUSICCLASSICAL MUSIC
 Evolved in many royalEvolved in many royal
households and washouseholds and was
used both for ceremoniesused both for ceremonies
and the entertainment ofand the entertainment of
the ruling class.the ruling class.

28. FOLK MUSICFOLK MUSIC
• It is as diverse as the number of distinctIt is as diverse as the number of distinct
regional traditions in the country.regional traditions in the country.
• Most of these performances includeMost of these performances include
dances and festivities related todances and festivities related to
Buddhism.Buddhism.

29. STYLE OF FOLK MUSICSTYLE OF FOLK MUSIC
MORLAMMORLAM
 It is dominant in Thailand’s North-eastern region,It is dominant in Thailand’s North-eastern region,
mainly inhabited by the Lao population.mainly inhabited by the Lao population.
 It focuses on the dully life of the rural poor.It focuses on the dully life of the rural poor.
 It is characterized by rapid rhythmic vocals andIt is characterized by rapid rhythmic vocals and
a funk style of percussion.a funk style of percussion.
 There are about 15 regional variations ofThere are about 15 regional variations of MorMor
Lam.Lam. These are however lately influenced byThese are however lately influenced by
modern Western music, and were later knownmodern Western music, and were later known
asas “Mor Lam Sing.”“Mor Lam Sing.”

30. STYLE OF FOLK MUSICSTYLE OF FOLK MUSIC
KANTRUMKANTRUM
 It is played by Cambodian population inIt is played by Cambodian population in
Thailand.Thailand.
 It is a swift and traditional dance music.It is a swift and traditional dance music.
 It is characterized by the dominant soundIt is characterized by the dominant sound
of theof the Cho-kantrumCho-kantrum, vocal singers,, vocal singers,
percussion and fiddles.percussion and fiddles.

31. STYLE OF FOLK MUSICSTYLE OF FOLK MUSIC
LUK THUNGLUK THUNG
 Literally when combined asLiterally when combined as Phleng Luk ThungPhleng Luk Thung
as “children of the fields.”as “children of the fields.”
 It became the more popular style of Thai countryIt became the more popular style of Thai country
music which even now pervades some 90% ofmusic which even now pervades some 90% of
radio air waves.radio air waves.
 It reflects the daily trials and difficulties of ruralIt reflects the daily trials and difficulties of rural
folks.folks.
 It has been developed only in the mid 20It has been developed only in the mid 20thth
century, and is still now being further enrichedcentury, and is still now being further enriched
by influences coming from western music.by influences coming from western music.

32. CLASSICAL MUSICCLASSICAL MUSIC
 It is held only at tourist attractions andIt is held only at tourist attractions and
during formal ceremonies.during formal ceremonies.
 During the Bangkok Period (1768-1932During the Bangkok Period (1768-1932
A.D.), music and arts were revived. ThaiA.D.), music and arts were revived. Thai
classical music has been then classifiedclassical music has been then classified
by level orby level or “chan”,“chan”, based on the speed ofbased on the speed of
the tempo. The level and scale combine tothe tempo. The level and scale combine to
create specific feelings or emotions.create specific feelings or emotions.

33. CHARACTERISTICS OF THAI MUSICCHARACTERISTICS OF THAI MUSIC
The beauty of the intricately wovenThe beauty of the intricately woven
layers of rhythm and pitch.layers of rhythm and pitch.

34. CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS
 The performance of several variations of aThe performance of several variations of a
piece of music played by differentpiece of music played by different
instruments or sung simultaneouslyinstruments or sung simultaneously..
Instrumentalists improvise idiomaticallyInstrumentalists improvise idiomatically
around the central melody. This is knownaround the central melody. This is known
asas HeterophonyHeterophony..
 AA melodymelody is consisting of two or fouris consisting of two or four
measures that may joined by four othermeasures that may joined by four other
phrase units to make a phrase block.phrase units to make a phrase block.

35. CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS
 The tuning system is made up of sevenThe tuning system is made up of seven
tempered tones to an octave. However,tempered tones to an octave. However,
melodies are composed using only five outmelodies are composed using only five out
of seven tones, very similar to theof seven tones, very similar to the
Chinese pentatonic scaleChinese pentatonic scale..
 Rhythmically, their music isRhythmically, their music is steady in tempo,steady in tempo,
regular in pulses, done in simple dupleregular in pulses, done in simple duple
meter, without swing, and with themeter, without swing, and with the
emphasis placed on the final beat of aemphasis placed on the final beat of a
measure or group of phasesmeasure or group of phases, as opposed to, as opposed to
European music.European music.

36. CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS
 Thai music is characterized by theThai music is characterized by the
layering of the rhythms and pitcheslayering of the rhythms and pitches
rather than by the usual harmony,rather than by the usual harmony,
chord progressions, and melodieschord progressions, and melodies
which are so important to Western music.which are so important to Western music.