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| A BRIEF HISTORY OF MUSIC IN THAILAND | |
| Early
Influences It is believed that Thai culture originated in southern China where culture and music were flourishing by 600 AD near Nan-chiao city (Meng-che) in Yunnan Province. In 1238, Sukhothai became the first Thai capital and music was performed widely in the city. Ayutthaya became stronger and became capital in 1350, and remained the governmental center until 1767. Four centuries of warfare with Cambodians and Burmese took its toll on cultural and musical activities. Only a few court annals and documents referring to early music exist. Some information is available on Thai music system dating from Bangkok Period, referring to lists of instruments and anecdotes. | |
| Ayutthaya Period and
Contact with the West Contact with Western culture started in Ayutthaya Period when Western merchants and political figures entered the capital. Western music had little effect on Thai music system, with exception of occasional military bands. The major influences were primarily Chinese, with some Indian and Indonesian elements that entered through Cambodia or directly by sea up river to capital cities. | |
| Post-1932 Thai traditional music performance declined after 1932 when democracy supplanted absolute monarchy and the royal household no longer patronized court music. In 1952, the Department of Fine Arts, National Archives Division was created in Bangkok for the protection and preservation of traditional arts. Traditional court music played minor part in lives of common people although folksongs and dances are flourishing in all parts of Thailand. Today, popular music in Thailand is a thriving business, and encompasses all styles from folk-jazz and reggae to heavy metal bands. | |
| SUGGESTED
READING David Morton, The Traditional Music of Thailand. | |
| Terry E. Miller, Traditional Music of the Lao. Greenwood Publishing, 1985. Cultural and historical review of traditional vocal and instrumental music of the Lao-speaking people living in Northeast Thailand. | |
| Craig A. Lockard. Dance of Life: Popular Music and Politics in Southeast Asia, 1998. | |
| Pamela Myers-Moro. Thai Music & Musicians in Contemporary Bangkok (Center for Southeast Asia Studies, No. 34), 1993. | |
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