Your Recorder Community

The music was inspired by the sound of a traditional instrument of the region called the “khene”, which is a reed mouth organ related to the harmonica, resembling two vertical rows of bamboo pipes girdled by an ocarina. The khene is popular in the northeastern Isan region of Thailand and neighboring Laos, with unique sounds and textures. See an example of it being played here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMfkvWeeYms

The concept of the story is chatter around wedding plans in Isan. People are very busy with preparations for the wedding, but the most important thing is the ring (tham-ma-rong). The music portrays conversations among relatives on both sides, each having its own sequences of melodies.

As a Thai native I would like to present our beautiful Thai music to the world, and I hope audiences will be interested in Thai culture.

This Members Library Edition is made possible by a generous donation from Connie Confer, who enjoys playing with the Inland Recorder Society in Riverside, CA and attending recorder workshops. Connie said she sponsored the composition because it is a beautiful piece and because of her commitment to diversity in our community. She is a member of the ARS Diversity Committee. She wishes to show that contemporary recorder playing reflects a broad range of musical and cultural styles.