Laos – Kaen Solo Pieces
February 12, 2010
This is a tape I bought in Luang Prabang, Laos, in October 1996. The pieces are all solo performances on the kaen, which is a bamboo free-reed mouth organ considered to be the national instrument of Laos and a symbol of Lao identity. The different regional styles of kaen playing are discerned by the rhythms used in the phrasing, and traditional folk melodies are used as a springboard for complex improvisations in each piece. Unfortunately, this instrument is rapidly being replaced by cheesy electronic keyboards in Lao music, a trend that will hopefully see a reversal soon.
Southeast Asian Archive 
Thanks! Cant wait for the next upload!
Thanks so far for everything (and your defence of the acoustic kaen; yep, the electronic replacements can become pretty frustrating!). I hope you just do not stop now. There are (and probably will be even more – around seven folks or so around the globe, I guess 😉 people interested in these things (a blog needs some – maybe frustrating period of time – to establish). There are not too many blogs of that kind around anyway. Please note that your efforts are very much appreciated.
Thanks for the encouragement. I will put some more stuff up soon, time permitting. Glad you are enjoying it.