Khene

Thekhaen(/ˈkɛn/;spelled "Khaen", "Kaen", "Kehn"^[1]or "Ken" in English;^[2]Lao:ແຄນ,pronounced[kʰɛ́ːn];Thai:แคน,RTGS:khaen,pronounced[kʰɛ̄ːn];Northeastern Thai:แคน,pronounced[kʰɛ᷇ːn];Khmer:គែន–Ken;Vietnamese:khènorkheng) is a Laomouth organwhose pipes, which are usually made of bamboo, are connected with a small, hollowed-out hardwood reservoir into which air is blown. The khene is the national instrument ofLaos.^[3]The khene music is an integral part of Lao life that promotes family and social cohesion^[4]and it was inscribed in 2017 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.^[5]It is used among the ethnic Lao Isan and Some tai ethnic groups such as Tai dam In north Vietnam and Lao population of the province ofStung Trengand is used inlakhon ken,a Cambodian dance drama genre that features thekheneas the main instrument^[6]^[7]InVietnam,this instrument is used among theTai peoplesand theMuong people.

The khene uses afree reedmade of brass and/or silver. It is related to Western free-reed instruments such as theharmonium,concertina,accordion,harmonica,andbandoneon,which were developed beginning in the 18th century from the Chinesesheng,a related instrument, a specimen of which had been carried to St. Petersburg, Russia.^{[citation needed]}

The khene has five differentlai,orpentatonicmodes with specific drone pitches, organized into two families (thang sanandthang yao). Thethang sanfamily includeslaisutsanaen(G A C D E),lai po sai(C D F G A), andlai soi(D E G A B), while thethang yaofamily includeslai yai(A C D E G) andlai noi(D F G A C).Lai po saiis considered to be the oldest of the modes andlai sutsanaenthe "Father of the Lai Khaen."^{[citation needed]}Khene can be played as a solo instrument (dio khene), as part of an ensemble (such aswong pong langandkhene wong), or as an accompaniment to a Lao or Isan solo singer (mor lam). It is often played in combination with a traditional fretted plucked lute calledphin.

Composers who have written notated music for the instrument includeAnnea Lockwood,Christopher Adler,David Loeb,andVera Ivanova.

Tuning

The khene has seven tones per octave, with intervals similar to that of the Western diatonic natural A-minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. A khene can be made in a particular key but cannot be tuned after the reed is set and the pipes are cut.

Varieties

The khene comes in several varieties:

Khaen hok(Lao: ແຄນຫົກ Thai: แคนหก,hokmeaning "six" ) – smallkhaenwith 12 pipes in two rows of 6; usually used by children or beginners, or sold to tourists
Khaen jet(Lao:ແຄນເຈັດThai: แคนเจ็ด,jetmeaning "seven" ) – medium-sized khaen with 14 pipes in two rows of 7
Khaen pet(Lao: ແຄນແປດ Thai: แคนแปด,petmeaning "eight" ) – medium-sizedkhaenwith 16 pipes in two rows of 8; the most commonly used variety
Khaen gao(Lao: ແຄນເກົ້າ Thai: แคนเก้า,gaomeaning "nine" ) –khaenwith 18 pipes in two rows of 9; usually very long
Khaen sip(Lao: ແຄນສິບ Thai: แคนสิบ,sipmeaning "ten" ) – an "improved" version of thekhaen paet;little used

Outside Southeast Asia

Khene

In the United States, the top master khaen artist is a blind Laotian-born player, Bounseung Synanonh. Master Synanonh started playing the khaen at age twelve and later lost his eyesight at age 15. Master Synanonh immigrated to the U.S. as a refugee in the early 1980s.^[8]In 1987, he performed for President Reagan at the White House. He also recorded with the World Music Institute under the direction of Terry Miller, an ethnomusicologist. In 2007, he performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.^[9]In Thailand, one of the top virtuoso khaen soloists is the blind musician Sombat Simla. The instrument has also attracted a few non-Asian performers, includingUniversity of San DiegoprofessorChristopher Adler,who also composes for the instrument; English musician Clive Bell (UK); Vancouver-based composer/performerRandy Raine-Reusch(Canada), who played khaen on Aerosmith'sPump(1989), Cranberries'To the Faithful Departed(1996), and Yes'sThe Ladder(1999); andJaron Lanier(United States). Since the early 21st century, the California-born khaen playerJonny Olsenhas achieved familiarity in Laos and Thailand by appearing on numerous Thai and Lao TV Shows and performing live concerts in Thailand and the U.S. Olsen is the first foreigner to win a khaen championship in Khon Kaen, Thailand in 2005. Stephen Molyneux (United States) has played the khaen on his releasesThe Arbitrary State(2010),The Stars Are the Light Show(2012),Wings and Circles(2016), and in select live performances. Molyneux bought a khaen in Bangkok in 2010 after developing an interest in the instrument while traveling in Laos and Thailand.

Notes

^Shepherd, J., et al. (2003). "Wind Instruments: Reeds and Woodwinds",Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Vol. II: Performance and Production.New York: Continumm. p. 486.ISBN 978-184-7-14472-0,0-8264-6322-3
^
Martin, Andrew R. and Mihalka, M. (2020). "Khene",Music Around the World: A Global Encyclopedia.California: ABC-CLIO LLC. p. 464.ISBN978-161-0-69499-5
- Mansfield, S. Koh, M. and Nevins, D. (2018).Cultures of the World: Laos.(3rd Ed.). New York: Cavendish Square Publishing LLC. p. 98.ISBN 978-150-2-63233-3
^
Whitaker, Donald P. et al., Foreign Area Studies, American University. (1972).Area Handbook for Laos: Laos, a country study.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 143-144.LCCN72--60017
- Berval, René de. (1959).ສໍາພາດ ຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ Kingdom of Laos: The Land of the Million Elephants and of the White Parasol.(Translated by Mrs. Teissier du Cros, et al.). Saigon: France-Asie. p. 217.
- Kislenko, A. (2009).Culture and Customs of Laos(eBook). California: ABC-CLIO LLC. p. 110.ISBN 978-031-3-08707-3
- Miller, Terry E. and Williams, S. (2017).The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Vol. 4: Southeast Asia(eBook). New York: Routledge as imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.ISBN 978-135-1-54420-7
- Rantala, Judy A. (2014).Laos, Caught In The Web(eBook). First Edition Design eBook Publishing.ISBN 978-162-2-87803-1
- "Exhibition:" Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos "".ASEF culture360.Retrieved2021-05-27.
- "Laos Music – Everything about Laotian Traditional Music".Laos Tours.2017-05-18.Retrieved2021-05-27.
^Yap, Jasmina (2018-04-14)."Laos Celebrates Khaen Music as UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage".Laotian Times.Retrieved2021-05-27.
^"UNESCO – Khaen music of the Lao people".ich.unesco.org.Retrieved2021-05-27.
^http:// jiras.se/lakhaon2010/kraythong/info.html>; pictures of performance with the instrument can be seen at <http:// jiras.se/lakhaon2010/kraythong/index.html>
^Referred to as 'Ken Theatre' orlakhaon kenin <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001352/135258eb.pdf>
^"Bounxeung Synanonh".arts.gov.Retrieved2021-07-01.
^"The Khene: A Quintessential Lao Instrument".Alliance for California Traditional Arts.2008-08-30.Retrieved2021-07-01.

Bibliography

Miller, Terry E.Traditional Music of the Lao: Kaen Playing and Mawlum Singing in Northeast Thailand(1985). Contributions in Intercultural and Comparative Studies, no. 13. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
Miller, Terry E.An Introduction to Playing the Kaen(1980). Kent, Ohio: Terry E. Miller.
Lilly, JosephAn Introduction to the Khaen of Laos:The Free-Reed Journal Articles and Essays Featuring Classical Free-Reed Instruments and Performers

External links

Educational Video about KhaenWhat is the khaen and how it is played
Khaen Baet and Khaen Hok
Khaen Repertories: The Developments of Lao Traditional Music in Northeast ThailandAccessed 13 May 2005.
Audio samples
Traditional Music and Songs in Laos: The Voice of the Lao Khen
Art of the States: khaenThree contemporary American works featuring the instrument
Jaron Lanierusing his invented style of playing, extraordinary.
Khaen Master Nouthong Phimvilayphone playing Lotfai talangonYouTube

[1] Shepherd, J., et al. (2003). "Wind Instruments: Reeds and Woodwinds",Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Vol. II: Performance and Production.New York: Continumm. p. 486.ISBN 978-184-7-14472-0,0-8264-6322-3

[2] Martin, Andrew R. and Mihalka, M. (2020). "Khene",Music Around the World: A Global Encyclopedia.California: ABC-CLIO LLC. p. 464.ISBN 978-161-0-69499-5
Mansfield, S. Koh, M. and Nevins, D. (2018).Cultures of the World: Laos.(3rd Ed.). New York: Cavendish Square Publishing LLC. p. 98.ISBN 978-150-2-63233-3

[3] Mansfield, S. Koh, M. and Nevins, D. (2018).Cultures of the World: Laos.(3rd Ed.). New York: Cavendish Square Publishing LLC. p. 98.ISBN 978-150-2-63233-3

[3] Whitaker, Donald P. et al., Foreign Area Studies, American University. (1972).Area Handbook for Laos: Laos, a country study.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 143-144.LCCN 72--60017
Berval, René de. (1959).ສໍາພາດ ຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ Kingdom of Laos: The Land of the Million Elephants and of the White Parasol.(Translated by Mrs. Teissier du Cros, et al.). Saigon: France-Asie. p. 217.

Kislenko, A. (2009).Culture and Customs of Laos(eBook). California: ABC-CLIO LLC. p. 110.ISBN 978-031-3-08707-3

Miller, Terry E. and Williams, S. (2017).The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Vol. 4: Southeast Asia(eBook). New York: Routledge as imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.ISBN 978-135-1-54420-7

Rantala, Judy A. (2014).Laos, Caught In The Web(eBook). First Edition Design eBook Publishing.ISBN 978-162-2-87803-1

"Exhibition:" Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos "".ASEF culture360.Retrieved2021-05-27.

"Laos Music – Everything about Laotian Traditional Music".Laos Tours.2017-05-18.Retrieved2021-05-27.

[5] Berval, René de. (1959).ສໍາພາດ ຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ Kingdom of Laos: The Land of the Million Elephants and of the White Parasol.(Translated by Mrs. Teissier du Cros, et al.). Saigon: France-Asie. p. 217.

[6] Kislenko, A. (2009).Culture and Customs of Laos(eBook). California: ABC-CLIO LLC. p. 110.ISBN 978-031-3-08707-3

[7] Miller, Terry E. and Williams, S. (2017).The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Vol. 4: Southeast Asia(eBook). New York: Routledge as imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group.ISBN 978-135-1-54420-7

[8] Rantala, Judy A. (2014).Laos, Caught In The Web(eBook). First Edition Design eBook Publishing.ISBN 978-162-2-87803-1

[9] "Exhibition:" Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos "".ASEF culture360.Retrieved2021-05-27.

[10] "Laos Music – Everything about Laotian Traditional Music".Laos Tours.2017-05-18.Retrieved2021-05-27.

[4] Yap, Jasmina (2018-04-14)."Laos Celebrates Khaen Music as UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage".Laotian Times.Retrieved2021-05-27.

[5] "UNESCO – Khaen music of the Lao people".ich.unesco.org.Retrieved2021-05-27.

[6] ttp:// jiras.se/lakhaon2010/kraythong/info.html>; pictures of performance with the instrument can be seen at <http:// jiras.se/lakhaon2010/kraythong/index.html>

[7] Referred to as 'Ken Theatre' orlakhaon kenin <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001352/135258eb.pdf>

[8] "Bounxeung Synanonh".arts.gov.Retrieved2021-07-01.

[9] "The Khene: A Quintessential Lao Instrument".Alliance for California Traditional Arts.2008-08-30.Retrieved2021-07-01.

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Khene

Contents

Tuning

Varieties

Outside Southeast Asia

See also

Notes

Bibliography

External links