I-San folk band(Pong Lang)

By: Athichat and Onnalat


History
Pong Lang is the name of northeastern (I-San) Thailand’s musical instrument. It is shaped like xylophone. It can be played both solo and in a band called “Wong Pong Lang” or Pong Lang band.
Pong Lang has an interesting history. Mr.Plueang Chairasamee , the Pong Lang teacher at Kalasin Dancing Art College and a national artist said that Pong Lang was improved from “Koh Lor” hundreds years ago. Tao Prom Kod and his people migrated from Laos and settled down in I-san. He invented a “Koh Lor” to use for hitting to give his villagers a signal to join a meeting and to inform good or bad things to them.
Actually, the history of Pong Lang is not long. Mr.Plueang had done an important role for developing Koh Lor until it became a great musical instrument called Pong Lang.
In the past, Koh Loh had only six bars stringed on two ropes. Mr.Plueang firstly improved it to be nine bars in 1957, then twelve bars and finally improved to be thirteen bars in 1959, and the thirteen bar Pong Lang are still using so far. It is the most complete and can be played with other kinds instruments both Thai and Western.




Musical instruments of I-san folk band
1. PONG-LANG : how to play Pong lang is similar to playing the xylophone. The body of Pong lang done by bringing timber or cylindrical timber adjacent to parcels and use the bat hit to make sound. Kind of this instrument found in I-san.
(Source: www.culture.go.th/research/musical/html/music…)

2. PHIN : Phin is a type of I-san lute. The body of phin look like a pearshaped and having flets on the neck and over which two-three metal strings run. Pluck by picking of the right hand while playing (Source: www.culture.go.th/research/musical/html/music…)

Source: www.oknation.net/.../2008/11/28/entry-2
3.Khane: Khene is a musical instrument that use mouth to blow for make sound. To blow Khane , a player has to hold the handle that are on the center called “Thao Khane”, and use his/her fingers to open and close on holes above the handle to play various tones.

Source: www.trsc.ac.th/web_load_st/std/kan1.html
4. WODE: Wode is a kind of vertical flute, made of 6-9 various pieces of small bamboo pipes bunched together. In order to, a player has to rotate it to make different tones. (Source:www.culture.go.th/research/musical/html/music…)

Source: gotoknow.org/blog/munmangesan/252243
5.Klong Hang (The long-body drum) or popular name called “Klong Yao”. The body of the drum is made from jackfruit wood because it is not very heavy and has some beautiful colors, and the drumhead is made from young cow skins because it is thin and well-flexible.

Source: www.esan-music.com/shop/index.php/กลอ ...
6.Phin Hai or Hai Song a set of earthenware jars with rubber bands stretched over the open mouths. In the past, this instrument was used as bass, but now it is not necessary because the modern electric guitar bass has already substitute it. The women who play this instrument is called “Nang Hai”. She is a very talented woman dancing and playing at the same time.

Source: krupeak.igetweb.com/index.php?mo=3&art=219417
7.Chab-Lek and Chab-Yai Cymbal is a kind of metal percussion. It is composed of 2 types, “small cymbals” and “large plaster”. Smear small size measured through the center approximately 12 -14 cm. The large size is measured gloss over. Center is about 24 -26 cm. Chab is played by clashing against each other to make the rhythmic sound, when the two cymbals together side effects when they hit the splice of sound "Chab." If the hit-and-open sound will be heard is "Chaeng."

Source: www.cmw.ac.th/.../Art/teerapon001/sec4.html\

Pong Lang band’s performance
Pong Lang performance are always seen in any important events among I-San people like a house-warming party, wedding ceremony, Boon Bang Fai (The event taken place on the 6th lunar month) and so on. The performance is interesting, Pong Lang is played with other instruments, the amusing rhythm gets along very well with a traditional dancing. The shows and songs are well-expressing I-San people’s wisdom and way of life. At the present time, Pong Lang is supporting as an extra-course activity in school or in situation of higher education, particular in I-San (Northeast), where Pong Lang was invented. The main purpose is to conserve the local arts and culture. Therefore, we are able to see the performance in school or university as well.
Khon Kaen University is one of the universities in I-San. Cultural conservation is also one of the university’s policies. For this reason, Pong Lang is an important activity for student. There is a specific club for Pong Lang in campus. In any important activities, we are able to see the performance showing by students, for example, Loy Kratong Festival, Orientation ceremony and freshmen welcoming ceremony.
Music style
The background of I-san people is living in drought areas and do framing. I-san people’s life quality is quite low, they are poor. However, I-san people tried to find ways to forget their troubles and poverty. Music is a good way to help them. Therefore, I-san music is amusing. In this way, although I-san people is poor, they have happy lives. According to this background can infer that the music style of Pong Lang is in the same way.

Pong Lang in modern time
We all know that now the world is in the age of globalization, everything must be international. Pong Lang is also in the same way, it was applied to be played western music, so it can be played more styles like pop and rock, not only local songs. Although it changes a lot, it is still charming and sustain its identification as an I-san local music.
Pong Lang Sa-On is a very famous modern Pong Lang in Thailand now. They not only perform local arts or play only local songs, but they also have comedy show and play songs originally from their album. Their performance is fabulous, both Thai and foreigners are fond of it.
Although Pong Lang is supported as an extra activity in school or university, at the same time it became a conservative national art, people are rarely interested in it. On behalf of an I-san people, I would like every I-san friends to pay attention on this good performance and conserve it to be in our society forever.