Thailand is a country wherein the revered rituals in classical music give homage to the music teachers; it is a significant part of the society and culture in Thailand. The meaning of the Thailand is the ‘land of the free,’ and this country has never been colonized by the Europeans. Majority of the population of Thailand is Thai; however there are small groups of Hmong, Chinese, Malays Laotians and few others. Education is very important in Thailand. Almost 98% of school-children are attending schools and 96% of their population is highly literate. Music plays an important role in the education of children as well and majority of Thai people can effortlessly play at least 2 conventional Thai musical instruments. Folk as well as classical music forms the base of conventional culture of Thai music. Although they have been eclipsed by contemporary music lately, even today they play a very important part in the culture of Thailand.
Classical Music
Classical music is a vital, influential and also an identify-producing form of art for a lot of Thais. Classical Thai music wherein music that is composed has been played by the musicians solely for the sake of performance has been in Thailand from the 1300s. Hence Thai music reaches back up to the roots of urban classical European music. There are 3 prime classical music styles in Thailand which are mahori, khruang sai and pi-phat. These music styles use 4 variant instrument groups which comprise of strings, woodwinds, rhythmic percussion and melodic percussion.
Like most of the other Southeast Asian classical music, the rhythm of Thai music depends on rhythmic beats’ cycle that is recurring. The prime melody is mostly played by an instrument and after that the other instruments for supporting play a detailed ornamental melody version for complementing the main music. They all combine for producing a complete, enriched polyphonic texture that is at times accompanied by dancers and singers. Classical music usually accompanies the ritualistic ceremonies, different forms of entertainment and theater and funerals.
Folk Music
Similar to a bountiful harvest that occurs from central Thailand, plenty of the styles of folk music have burst from all the corners of this country. The style of music rarely remains the same all the time and Thailand has witnessed historical interplays between classical and folk styles for the elements in one will be able to be heard in other. Most of the folk Thai music styles make use of similar kind of instruments which are found in the Thai classical music like xylophones, cymbals and drums, woodwinds such as pinai. These instruments families form an instrumental palette in general which can be found all through that region.
Thai Music Today
Fat beats and popular music have started ruling the airwaves as well as stereos of the modern Thailand. Furthermore such changes have threatened to remove the classical and folk music in the previous century itself. However, the strong support from the government for arts along with continual dedication of ensembles, private groups and the individual musicians, classical and folk Thai music even now has its niche in the musical culture of the Thai people.
