Traditional Music of the Golden Triangle

If a village has no music,
how can it be called a village?
– Akha Saying

Incantations, chants, songs, vocal calls, special acts, and instrumental music form a vast repertory of sounds that has evolved over the millennia to enliven, to ‘bring to life,’ ceremonial events, propelling participants through the hours and days it takes to satisfactorily honor the spirits. Whether marking cycles of the sun and moon, rotations of seasons, or the arc of life, there is no ritual where music or rhythmically intoned prayers are not present.

Music is not merely an accompaniment to such occasions, nor is it recreation or entertainment. Rather, music is a revered medium that leads to attainment. In traditional cultures, where transformation of human consciousness is regarded as holy and worth seeking, songs, chants, and instrumental music are performed as the very essence of their lives.

Please enjoy this varied sampling of secular and sacred music of the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu people of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and China (recorded from 2005-2009). Cycles-of-life pieces are performed through song, leaf, mouth harp, horn, reed pipes, side flute, end flute, folk clarinet, lute, harp, zither, and bamboo beaters. Ritual chants and ceremonial instrument on the shawm, drum, gong, cymbals, bell, and bamboo beaters unfold during sacred observances.

Karen

Cultural Crossroads Asia - Music

Heralding Festivals (Karen S’gaw)
Kwae Free Reed Horns
Thayae and Brothers

Karen S’gaw Courting Song, Call-and-Response Verses Bu Gae and Na Tii (Women) and To Saa and Gem Mai (Men) Ban Nam Bo Noi, Lamphun, Thailand

Courting Song (Karen S’gaw)
Voice and Te Na Ku Harp
Suchiwan Phatthanaphraiwan

Karen S’gaw Song of Daily Life, with Te Na Ku Harp Suchiwan Phatthanaphraiwan Chiang Mai, Thailand

Courting Song (Karen S’gaw)
Bu Gae and Na Tii (Women)
To Saa and Gem Mai (Men)

Kayaw Ancestral Song, with a Paplaw Tube Zither and Whistling Mo Ee Nai Soi, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Ancestral Song (Kayaw)
Voice and Paplaw Tube Zither
Mo Ee

Hmong

Hmoob Dawb Courting Song, Played on a Ncas Mouth Harp Rhiav Lis Ban Nam La, Luang Nam Tha, Laos

Courting Song (Hmoob Dawb)
Ncas Mouth Harp
Rhiav Lis

Hmoob Txaij New Year Music, Played on the Qeej Multiple Reed Pipes As Loos Ban Ta, Phongsali, Laos

Courting Song (Hmoob Dawb)
Raj Lev Les Reed Pipe
Nyiaj Huas Lis

Hmoob Ntsuab Ballad of Loneliness, Kwv Txhiaj Ntxhw Zeb Haam Ban Khun Huay Mae Pao, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Ballad of Loneliness (Hmoob Ntsuab)
Ntxhw Zeb Haam

Hmoob Txaij New Year Music, Played on the Qeej Multiple Reed Pipes As Loos Ban Ta, Phongsali, Laos

New Year Music (Hmoob Txaij)
Qeej Multiple Reed Pipes
As Loos

Iu Mien

Iu Mien Wedding Music, Played on a Dzat Shawm and Percussion Nai Sheng, Dzat, and Percussion Ensemble Ban Nam Thin, Phayao, Thailand

Wedding Music (Iu Mien)
Dzat Shawm and Percussion
Nai Sheng and Ensemble

Iu Mien Courting Music, Played on a Hao Dong Ngo End Flute Gau Zang Ban Chong Ka, Muang Sing, Luang Nam Tha, Laos

Courting Music (Iu Mien)
Hao Dong Ngo End Flute
Gau Zang

Iu Mien Courting Song Meui Phou Ban Chong Ka, Muang Sing, Luang Nam Tha, Laos

Courting Song (Iu Mien)
Meui Phou

Iu Mien Sacred Chant, with Ling Bells, to Call Deities Yang Tung Meng, Iu Mien Priest, and Acolytes Ban Huay Chang Lod, Phayao, Thailand

Ritual Chant (Iu Mien)
Voice and Ling Bells
Priest Yang Tung Meng and Acolytes

Lahu

Lahu Shi Courting Music

Courting Music (Lahu Shi)
Voice and Tae Lae Kui End Flute
I Schwai and Wife

Lahu She Leh Courting Song, Played on a Teu Ga Lute Ja Ha Ban Ja Bo, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Courting Song (Lahu She Leh)
Teu Ga Lute
Ja Ha

Lahu She Leh Medley of Festival and Healing Music Ja Ha, Musician of Tolaemu and Naw Kuma Reed Pipes Ja Sae, Musician of Naw Seu Reed Pipes Ban Ja Bo, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Festival and Healing Music (Lahu She Leh)
Tolaemu, Naw Kuma, Naw Seu Reed Pipes
Ja Ha and Ja Sae

Lahu Shi Sacred Chant, with Bulo Ko Gong and Bells New Rice Harvest Festival Lahu Shi Priests Wan Kong Pyak Tae, Keng Tung, Shan State, Myanmar

Sacred Chant (Lahu Shi)
Voice, Bulo Ko Gong, and Bells
Lahu Shi Priests

Akha

Cultural Crossroads Asia - Music

Funeral Chant (Ulo Akha)
Voice and Bau Tang Bamboo Beater
Ga La, Spirit Intermediary

Loimi Akha Courting Song, Played on a Pii Pa Leaf Boo Sheu Wan Pon Pin, Shan State, Myanmar

Courting Song (Loimi Akha)
Pii Pa Leaf
Boo Sheu

Nuqui Akha Courting Song, Sung at the Swing Festival Gae Nu Wan Huay Sang Gow, Phongsali, Myanmar

Courting Song (Nuqui Akha)
Gae Nu

Puli Hulai Akha Blessing Ceremony Chebeu, Puli Hulai Akha Shaman, Nyi Pa, and Apprentice Ban Nam Mouakha, Muang Sing, Lunag Nam Tha, Laos

Blessing Ceremony (Puli Hulai Akha)
Shaman Chebeu and Apprentice

Lisu

Sha Sha Lisu New Year Friendship Song, Call-and-Response Verses Mi Zai Je and Zai Ching Mui Tao Shu Heu, Tengchong, Yunnan, China

New Year Friendship Song (Sha Sha Lisu)
Mi Zai Je and Zai Ching Mui

Sha Sha Lisu Courting Song, Played on Djeulae Bakka Side Flute La Mu Shui Cheng, Dian Tan, Yunnan, China

Courting Song (Sha Sha Lisu)
Djeulae Bakka Side Flute
La Mu

Lo Shi Lisu New Year Song of Lisu Identity, with a Tseubeu Lute Ami, Women’s Chorus, and Tseubeu Musician Ban Pba Kluay, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Song of Lisu Identity (Lo Shi Lisu)
Voice and Tseubeu Lute
Ami, Women’s Chorus, Tseubeu Player

Sha Sha Lisu New Year Festival Singing and Dancing, with a Tseubeu Lute Yi Zai Ching, Tseubeu, and Sha Sha Lisu Men and Women Tao Shu Heu, Tengchong, Yunnan, China

New Year Song and Dance (Sha Sha Lisu)
Voice and Tseubeu Lute
Yi Zai Ching, Tseubeu, and Singers

Songs of Memory Recordings
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