Thailand Part 1

Bellwork

Ranet ek 21 keyed wooded xylophone

Ranet thum 17 keyed wooden xylophone

Ranet ek lek 21 keyed metal xylophone

Ranet thum lek 17 keyed metal xylophone

Khong wong yai lower pitch 16-gong instrument

Outcomes

Grammar: Learn basic facts about music from Thailand.

Rhetoric: Write a script for a shadow puppet play

Announcements

Test on Thailand Tuesday Nov 26th

Reading #14 due Tuesday Nov 19th

Final project interviews and musical samples due Tuesday Nov 19th

Pre-Knowledge

What is the climate like in Thailand?

What is the major religion?

There are many statues of what deity?

What is the capital of Thailand?

What did Thailand used to be called?

What American musical takes place in Thailand?

Wat Arun

Wat Arun

Wat Tasung

White Temple

White Temple

Ranet ek

Ranet ek lek

Khong wong yai

Guided Nophes

Pi Phat band: A percussion based music ensemble made up of paired idiophones, gongs and oboes

Many Southeast Asian instruments have non-functional pieces added for visual beauty.

Colotomy: It refers to the use of specific instruments to mark off nested time intervals, or the process of dividing rhythmic time into such nested cycles.

Mallet hardness: hard mallets create a bright, loud sound. Soft mallets create a quiet, mellow sound.

Active Listening #1Thai Piphat Orchestra-

Siam Society

What instruments in this ensemble have a role similar to the chac-chac?

What technique is used on the ranet instrument where one tone is struck in rapid succession with different mallets?

Listening Example #1Just the Phacts

The ranet ek has the melody.

Thai music consists of three elements:

1. the use of quarter tones

2. a pentatonic scale and

3. a seven note whole tone scale

Thai music is primarily monophonic.

Shadow Puppet NophesPrecursor for movies—plays with objects projected on a screen.

Nai nung: puppeteer literally means Mr Leather

Puppets must be placed directly against the screen or there is no shadow

Puppets are colored differently. Most are made from calf skin because it is very thin.

150-200 puppets per troupe, 40-50 puppets are used per play

Instruments used: pi nai, saw oo, “glong that”, two metal gongs and a ching

Characters must visually portray their identities

Puppets include human characters, demons and gods and objects like buildings trees and arrows.

Shadow Puppet Video #1

While we watch this video, make up a story line with each scene.

Ascertain the identities of each character by their dress and actions.

Shadow Puppet Video #2

CFU: Shadow Puppet Theater

Worth 25 Mastery PointsWork in groups if you wish.

Using stories from the Ramayana, create a script acting your story.

You may modernize the story if you want, or make up your own story, be creative!

Script must be at least two pages

Create puppets—remember you must visually represent all characteristics.

Puppets can move jaws or just arms when speaking

Practice

Perform!

Active Listening #2Cherd Chin เชิ�ดจี�นWhat new instrument has been added to this pi phat ensemble?

What instrument dominates in volume?

Which instrument dominates in timbre?

Listening Example #2Just the Phacts

There are three types of rhythm: slow, medium and fast

Most of Thai music is in duple meter.

When a percussion instrument trills one tone is struck in rapid succession with different mallets

Map Quest: ID Thailand, Laos and Cambodia

Guided Nophes

The pi phat are heard in the royal palaces where they accompany the official ceremonies and classical dramatic presentations.

The Ranet ek carries the melody in the pi phat ensemble

A wat is a buddist church festival

Ranets (xylephones) and khongs (gongs) tune by adding or removing a mixture of beexwax or lead to their gong or bar.

CFU: Gallery WalkOn a small post-it write down one fact from the listening examples of today.

When you have completed this, place it in a larger category on the board:

Musical Ensembles

Music Theory

Instrument Facts

Do a gallery walk by row and write down two additional facts from the category you chose.

Exit Ticket

What is a ranet thum?

Why must puppets be placed directly against the screen?

What three elements does Thai music consist of?

Why do some Southeast Asian instruments have non-functioning parts?

What is colotomy?