Since returning from Chiang Mai I have completed editing all the photo albums, and I have also made some DVDs for passing out to friends with all the photographs on them.
As background music for the slideshows I have been using the traditional Lanna music which I am embedding here.
You can find many other recordings of traditonal Asian music at Cliff Sloane’s home page Asian Classical Music in MP3 Format. The music here is reproduced with his permission.
These notes are by Cliff Sloane:
Before the turn of the 20th century, the Lanna kingdom of northern Thailand enjoyed considerable political power and prestige.
One indicator was the development of a rich body of music that is particular to northern Thailand, and often played on instruments only found in the north.
Since the mid-1970s, there has been a resurgence of interest in the cultural legacy of Lanna, and many universities now sponsor traditional music and dance programs.
The Lanna Orchid Ensemble of Chiang Mai University is one such ensemble. They are a “salaw saw seung” ensemble, utilizing such northern instruments as the salaw (free bow fiddle), saw (single-reed pipe) and seung (plucked lute).
The following titles are performed by the Lanna Orchid, the traditional ensemble of Chiang Mai University, led by Suchat Kanchai.
Individually:
Prasat Wai:
Long Mae Ping:
Rawb Wieng:
Phamaa:
Noi Jaiya:
Selemao:
Ue:
Pumpeng:
Ruesii Long Tham: