Description
Originally, the “Khaen” (a kind of mouth pipe organ) is a traditional local instrument in various regions in Thailand (there are similar instruments all over Southeast and East Asia) using an anhemitonic pentatonic scale. However, during the last years chromatic models have been developed. Apparently the first examples have not been quite successful as it is reported by Christopher Adler (email conversation in March 2022). But some newly built instruments seem to be more flexible (see Dr. Chumchon Suebwong in his talk at the 21st International Conference Asia-Pacific Society for Ethnomusicology 2017).
Consequently, my first idea of using four Khaen players with diff erent pentatonic tunings could be dropped in favour of a single player with a single chromatic instrument. As the instrument is quite soft, a slight amplification would be possible, with a speaker near the player. But I certainly prefer a performance without amplification.
As this combination of instruments is quite new, I decided to stick to a more conventional concert form and only a few blendings of the Khaen and “Western” instruments. Therefore, dynamics and even tempos are quite flexible.
The piece is based on a central chord with a “Khaen”-characteristic, a harmonic tableau in different versions and one rhythmic phrase that appears as well in different versions and as excerpts only.
Dieter Mack
