Music_and_Performance_Arts Culture_of_Laos

lao actors wearing khon masks

the national music of laos lam, singer (songs expert singers mor lam) uses improvised poetry set quick tempo music around themes of love, difficulty, , poverty using turns of phrases , subtle humor. lam highly regional, , many listeners can determine setting , themes in first few lines.

a popular form of lam battle-of-the-sexes between expert male , expert female singer entertain audience , trip opposing singer using humor, innuendo or stylistic flair. lam can used in story telling sung form of folk poetry, , forms oral tradition predating national epics in literature. lam used in animist traditions creates type of chant used during ceremonies baci.

traditional mor lam

the integral instrument lao music khaen free-reed mouth organ made of bamboo. variations on khaen found among ethnic groups in laos. laos uses number of classical court instruments show strong influence china, cambodia , thailand. ensembles include flutes, zithers, gongs, drums, fiddles, lutes, cymbals , xylophones. modern mor lam includes electric guitars, synthesizers , electric keyboards.

theater

all traditional theater in laos musical in nature. court music , performances known khon , lakhon feature elaborate costuming , dance. khon , lakhon originated khmer court , spread throughout region, beginning in laos during lan xang era. typical performances included jataka tales, performances of pra lak pra lam during lao new year in luang prabang being recognizable today. during nineteenth century influence thailand , vietnam spurred creation of lam luang or lao opera. lam luang more theatrical version of lam music complete sets, costumes , orchestral accompaniment. in 1972 pathet lao formed central lao opera, first professional lam luang troupe in laos. performances center on social issues, traditional themes, , national propaganda.

mor lam performance-the men playing khene , wearing pha sarong


dance

the national folk dance in laos lam vong. lam vong begins individual using head , hand movements based on buddhist mudras, joined partner, , other couples until crowd forms 3 interconnected , turning circles.

performance based dances royal courts rare, highly symbolic movements , steps female dancers. in 1980s many of royal court dancers luang prabang fled pathet lao government relocate in nashville, tennessee. other traditional performance dances include fon dhab or “sword dance” dance display of men’s martial arts. there number of folk dances popular lao theung , lao sung groups. hmong perform fon bun kin chieng or hmong “new year dance;” khmu have courtship dance known fon pao bang ; red , black tai have bamboo cane dance, , yao known bell , drum dances. there numerous regional , ethnic variations on traditional dances in laos.