Klo oh tra oh – Karen Bronze Drum (Four Drums)

The most celebrated symbol of Karen culture is its bronze drum, klo oh tra oh. With a history dating back to the 6th century BC, the bronze drum found its way to the Karen before their migration from Northern Asia to Myanmar in the 8th century.

The Karen klo oh tra oh is unique in all the range of musical instruments in the Golden Triangle due to its many distinctive traits. The Red Karenni artfully cast these drums as a single piece in bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, using the lost wax technique. Resembling a gong set on an elongated cylindrical base with concave sides, klo oh tra oh come in a range of dimensions, varying from eight to fifty centimeters high and ten to sixty centimeters in diameter.

A large multi-pointed star is etched at the center of the klo oh tra oh’s drumhead and surrounded by multiple concentric circles that teem with geometric and figurative designs—fish, birds, rice seeds, and flowers. Often identified as the Karen ‘rain’ drum or ‘frog’ drum, because of its sacred role in calling spirits to bring rain, the season when frogs sing, its tympanum is adorned with small three-dimensional bronze frogs, set individually or stacked in multiples of two or three at the cardinal points around the rim.

Further decorative elements can be seen along one side of the cylinder as a line of stylistic beasts—turtles ascend a blossoming tree of life, while elephants and snails descend.

A musician strikes the drumhead in a steady beat with a padded mallet. Three distinct pitches can be created, depending where the mallet falls—at the center, middle, or edge. With another mallet of bound strips of long bamboo, the drummer taps the top of the klo oh tra oh body so it ricochets in a complementary rhythm projecting a snare drum-like timbre.

Depending on its size and metallic content, each klo oh tra oh rings with a distinct pitch and timbre. They may be played solo or in ensembles of up to five drums, arranged pentatonically in graduating proportions and pitches, as found in Karenni villages. Bronze drums are supported on shoulder poles or suspended from a tree limb, stand, or house beam so the tympanum angles to nearly forty-five degrees.

Note: This group came together as a set of four different sizes with four different tones.

Esteemed for its sacred powers and regarded as a family’s most valuable possession, the klo oh tra oh is a symbol of wealth, “bringing more status to its owner than possessing seven elephants.” It is said that the resonant vibrations of the Karen bronze drum are so powerful they are able to carry over mountains as far as ten miles away to invite men, ancestors, and spirits to weddings, funerals, new house rites, and important seasonal ceremonies.

The klo oh tra oh serves a vital role during rice field ceremonies to call spirits’ support when rain is required. When played in combination with other bronze drums, it can inspire bravery during battle.  The klo oh tra oh is a precious asset for trade and is also used to store rice seed until the next planting cycle. Should the klo oh tra oh’s tone grow dull over time, the Karen believe it has lost its spirit.

Ethnic Group: Karen

Local Name: Klo oh tra oh

Type: Karen Bronze Drum / Karen Rain Drum / Karen Frog Drum

Class: Struck Idiophone

Tuning:

Age: Mid-20th c.

Materials: Bronze

Dimensions:
#1: 12 x 15 dia. cm / 4.75″ x 5.9″ dia.
#2: 14 x 20.5 dia. cm / 5.5″ x 8″ dia.
#3: 20 x 28 dia. cm / 7.9″ x 11″ dia.
#4: 24.5 x 32.5 dia. cm / 9.6″ x 12.75″ dia.

Location: Myanmar

Owner / Instrument Maker:

Catalog Number: 6568