The Revival and Development of Lao Classical Music Through the Play of String Orchestra

Abstract

Lao classical music was originally the music in the royal court of Laos in the past. Nowadays, there has been a change according to the concept of governing of the democratic republic. The Lao classical ensemble consists of 2 types of music bands: piphat and mahori. The researcher has brought the melody of the 2 Lao classical songs namely Oh Lao and Pla Thong currently no longer played back to restore and develop the original Lao melody. There was also a symposium among the current music teachers, ajarn Bunthieng Sisakda, Ajarn Khamsaen Pilavong, ajarn Bandit Sanasit, ajarn Saengthong Butchadi and Dr. Somchit Saiyasuwan (National Artist) to knowledge sharing until being able to transform the melody into music in the xylophone instrument. This was created by ajarn Bunthieng Sisakda, a senior teacher who is considered both the important music teacher and academic scholar at The National Music School of Laos.  Also, the adapted melody, based on ajarn Boonthieng’s work, was played in the orchestra. The researcher has developed the new arrangement for string orchestra performance according to the international music theory, harmonization and the theory of anthropology.