LAOS L’Art du Khène – Collection Musique du Monde 26 – Galloway Records GB 600 545 B

LAOS

L’Art du Khène – Collection Musique du Monde 26 – Galloway Records GB 600 545 B, recorded by Jacques Brunet in 1972 (LP).

This superb LP recorded by musicologist Jacques Brunet showcases the khene (or kaen) mouth organ — the Laotian national instrument, which consists of seven or eight pairs of vertical bamboo pipes and comes in different sizes and pitches ranging from 80 to 200 cm (2.5 to 6.5 ft). Continuous playing is achieved by either exhaling or inhaling into the mouthpiece in the manner of a harmonica. The khene is played solo or as an accompanying instrument in a variety of settings, from dance and concerts to funerals, weddings and Buddhist ceremonies.

 

The three virtuoso khene players here –Phet Sananikhone (A2, A3, A4), Phomma Syvath (A1, A3), and Thao Salilat (B1-B4), respectively play a long (low-pitched), medium (medium-pitched), and short (high-pitched) khene. All of these musicians craft stunning melodious polyphonic music.

Cet excellent album enregistré par le musicologue Jacques Brunet présente l'orgue à bouche khène (ou kaen) avec sept ou huit paires de tuyaux verticaux en bambou, l'instrument national laotien de hauteurs et de tailles différentes, allant de 80 à 200 cm. Le jeu continu est obtenu en soufflant ou en aspirant dans l'embouchure à la manière d'un harmonica. Le khène est joué comme instrument solo ou d'accompagnement dans divers contextes allant de la danse aux récitals, aux cérémonies bouddhistes, funérailles et mariages.

 

Les trois virtuoses du khène ici – Phet Sananikhone (A2, A3, A4), Phomma Syvath (A1, A3), et Thao Salilat (B1-B4), qui jouent respectivement du khéne médium (moyen), long (grave) et court (aigu) – tissent des musiques polyphoniques mélodieuses étonnantes.

A1 – Loy Khoy Hoy and Song Khoy Noy – Phomma Syvath, medium khene;

A2 – Lam Savannakhet and Nang Thiem – Phet Sananikhone, long khene.

According to Brunet, Sananikhone was probably the leading khene player at the time;

A3 – Lao Long Nong – Phomma Syvath and Phet Sananikhone, duet of short and long khenes;

 

A4 – Improvisations on Lao themes – Phet Sananikhone, long khene;

B1 – Phi Tom Dork Lam Long and Lam Thoy – Thao Salilat, short khene;

 

B2 – Phi Thay Noy and Phi Thay Nay – Thao Salilat, short khene;

B3 – Noy Vi Koy Liap Hat and Pao Thang Titsut – Thao Salilat, short khene;

 

B4 – Pao Lam Thang Soy – Thao Salilat, short khene.

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From 1963 to 1982, Jacques Brunet, a concert pianist turned musicologist, made a series of recordings of traditional music from South-East Asia, via his many explorations of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. We owe Brunet tremendous gratitude for mapping out the vanishing traditional musics in these countries and the outstanding musical quality of his many releases.

 

Our other posts featuring mouth organ:

Musique Mnong Gar du Vietnam - Ocora 80 here

Cambodia - Musique Samrê des Cardamomes - BAM LD 112 here

                        

Vintage postcard of musicians and singers, Laos, 1913:

 

Vintage postcard of the annual Dance of Laos' legendary ancestors, 

Luang Prabang, Laos:

Vintage postcard of the Satou of Watmaï, head Buddhist priest at the Court of Luang Prabang, Laos:

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