Passport to Worlds of Music: Music of Thailand
This is the opening concert of the Passport to Worlds of Music series. This special music and lecture concert will introduce you to the sounds, aesthetics, and cultural significance of the music from Thailand. Supeena Insee Adler and Christopher Adler will perform traditional music from Thailand, featuring court music from central Thailand and folk music from the culturally distinct northern and northeastern regions, as well as Thai musical compositions inspired by the neighboring cultures of China, Burma, and Laos. Their informal performance will include instruments such as xylophone, zither, hammer dulcimer, fiddles, flute, and mouth organ (khaen). They will talk about the instruments, the cultural regions, and the history, especially concerning court music. Additionally, they will provide some context for how the music is usually presented. Note: Most of this music is customarily performed in large ensembles. However, for this informal presentation the focus with be on the individual instruments themselves.