Laos - Lam Saravane

Laos: Lam Saravane / Musique pour le khène
Nang Soubane Vongath, Sengphet Souryavongxay, Nouthong Phimvilayphone
Ocora (Radio France) C 559058
Ocora C 582058

Contents:

  1. Lam Saravane

  2. Musique pour le khène
  3. Nam phat khay - "In the current of the Mekong"
  4. Khangdeuk - "Midnight Song"
  5. Khène Deum
  6. Mengphou Tom Dokmay - "The Insect prowls around the Flower"
  7. Pao Sat - "Invitation to the Spirit of the Khen"

Playing time: 70'

Recording date: January 1989 (Paris)

The first track is basically an extended format derived from the back-and-forth of courtship banter. Most women stop performing after getting married, so a performance of this level of quality is unusual. I have always found it highly effective, and although I do not really understand it, consider it to be one of the most interesting vocal performances on record. A male vocalist also participates, with low-key accompaniment on flute, khene, and drum.

The tracks on the mouth organ khene are also rather interesting, but the minority of the program.

To purchasing information for this disc.

To Southeast Asian music intro.

T. M. McComb