Khaen: A Guide for Composers
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2024
- A comprehensive guide to the khaen, the free-reed mouth organ of Laos and Northeast Thailand, for composers of contemporary music.
By Christopher Adler.
June, 2020
This video is a companion to the PDF document "Khaen, the bamboo free-reed mouth organ of Laos and Northeast Thailand: Notes for Composers", by Christopher Adler, available for free download at:
christopheradler.com/
Direct link to PDF:
christopheradler.com/khaen-for...
Contents:
0:00 Introduction
7:49 Part 1: Construction
14:22 Part 2: Pitches and layout
23:48 Part 3: Breathing
35:56 Part 4: Basic traditional idioms and techniques
37:17 Drones
43:44 The five lai
52:50 Modal theory
57:35 Melodic ornamentation
1:02:04 Part 5: Dynamics
1:07:31 Part 6: Notating contemporary music
1:10:19 Part 7: Extended Techniques
All musical examples are © copyright the composers, and used by permission.
* Minor corrections to word choice in video are shown in red speech bubbles.
To hear recordings of contemporary khaen repertoire, see the repertoire list on my website: christopheradler.com/khaen.html
My CD series of contemporary khaen music:
christopheradler.bandcamp.com...
christopheradler.bandcamp.com...
And this UA-cam playlist:
• Khaen
To hear contemporary music for other Asian mouth organs, see this UA-cam playlist:
• Music for Sho and Harp...
To hear traditional music for khaen, try each of these search terms in UA-cam:
khaen
khene
แคน
ແຄນ
Please note, although I do know the proper language tones for Isaan terminology, I often say them incorrectly when speaking English as in this video, because the tonality of English speaking takes over. I apologize for that!
Questions and constructive comments are welcome below.
Offensive, spammy or uninformed comments will be deleted.
I found a Chromatic Version w/ 14 pairs of Pipes (28 in total) called a khaen sipsi. The pipes are actually labeled w/ the note names to help.
This is a beautiful instrument. It acts very different in each owners hands. Hal Walker is the best I've heard.
Check out also, Jaron Lanier
Does hal play anything other than different versions of low key gliding online? Jw as i like that song but havent found other stuff of his that sounded much different
Also check out Christopher Adler above, too!
@@naanstop6559 just look through his channel he has lots of new stuff
@@naanstop6559 yeah I found the same, the guy seems a one trick pony online, quite a pretentious one too if you ask me
Some crazy cool sounds from this instrument
Being able to play while breathing both in and out is pretty amazing!
circular breathing technique ?
Wow. This is gold. I wish this sort of thing existed for every instrument.
Yes! that is so true!
That's astonishing. Two courses of sound chambers so you can harmonize, have rhythm on one side and lead runs on the other.
Fantastic Christopher
Brilliant discourse on this musical instrument. This is a tremendous learning lesson, indeed. Thank you, sir.
I just ordered one today from Amazon ($139 US dollars, shipping from Thailand) . Don't know how to play yet but will be watching lot vids like Mr. Adler's to help. Thanks for posting
What's it called on Amazon and was it any good?
@@Sofiaaa822 It's brand is COZINEST. Search COZINEST Khaen and you should find it. The one I bought is considered an Am Khaen. Since I am a beginner, I'm not sure if I can give an accurate review of it but I can say that I am a decent musician with pretty good ears lol So, while it feels very light and flimsy ( my uncle had one and I remembered it heavier and sturdier), it does play it the notes when covered and it sounds pretty good as a well. I play the trumpet so I can tell you its a lot easier to make a sound on the Khaen. I played some triad chords of C, Am, F, G and it sounded just like the progressions should have been. Again, I'm a beginner but it sounds like a Khaen so for the price of $140 U.S Dollars, I would consider this a good beginner khaen. By the way, It arrived 3 weeks quicker than Amazon anticipated on Prime.
have you played it much yet? is it tough to play? hows it sound? I want to get one
This is extremely useful. Thanks so much man I'm so glad this video existed
Thank you for the guide! I've been eager to write a khaen concerto since I first found out about the instrument and the accompanying document has been integral to the project
As someone that loves to write music. thank you thank you THANK YOU for making this video with the information on the Khaen. I have one at the moment but I have not touched it in years. I think i am gonna take it out of storage.
Christopher Adler
They even make a version w/ 10 pairs of Pipes called the Khaen Sip. As a Multi-Instrumentalist & Singer I've always wanted the Khaen Sip cause it's very versatile. I've wanted there to be a Chromatic Version as well called a Khaen Khormātik so I could play in any key w/o having to carry around many instruments.
I thought this seemed like a fascinating inatrument, now I'm even more interested now that I know how versatile it is!
Thank you for the very best information about Khaen.
Thank you everyone for the encouraging comments and feedback! Please check out my newest CD with new compositions for khaen, solo and in ensemble.
christopheradler.bandcamp.com/album/landscape-traces-new-music-for-khaen-volume-two
I just bought a khaen. I look forward to learning how to play it. I already play harmonica and flute.
This is a great video. Listening to what you say about it reminds me of early 20th century Isan mural paintings, which are also very different from each other... and more
Great video!
Thank you so so so so so so much for this.
I loved the video it a shame more people haven’t seen this
The Khaen is 2 Octaves although the 20 pipe version extends it further. They can be made in Various keys.
You know it well more than me as originally #Laos ! You are excellent !
quelle vidéo incroyable j'ai adoré!
Wow really love.the khene Lao ..Will buy it when going to Laos..Now it is spread world wide...yes u can change i saw people play reggae with khene.
thank you so much for this
Good job
You are the best
🙏👍
Wow! Very good
You gotta make a series on unique instruments for composing !!
A very informative video. I have 2 my pop’s brought back for me from Laos. A small one and a normal sized one. Then there’s my grandpa’s from the 1960s. But it’s broken 🙁
verry nice
thank you!
Wow I bought one because I thought it sounded cool and had no idea how complex of a tradition it has. Loved this video, definitely going to be using this a resource as I learn to play it.
could you tell me where you were able to buy one?
I got mine on Amazon. It was about $150
Home sick when I hear you play khean
Good job bro
Great
14:00 that information with the wind pressure is vital, i thought i was doing something wrong or theres something wrong with my reeds, but i just need to play with more pressure. Thanks
good
wow''' you very good on lao's khan,,
It has free reeds like my Harmonica & it sounds very much like my Harmonica.
I really love how you play it, it was very different to the other western Khaen players and the way you play it sounds very North-eastern Thai/ Laos. Fantastic
Good
Never too late to find your favorite instrument
Maximo 🇧🇷
Well, this instrument was published in Cambodia which is called KEN .
Thank you for this informative video!
I have a khaen with 14 pipes, and tuned differently than what you show. You mention a 14-pipe khaen played by Kumu (sp?) and I would dearly like to find out more and learn how to play this khaen. Can you point me to some information? Thanks!
Thanks for the comment. I am only familiar with a 14-pipe khaen that is exactly same, just without the two highest notes. So it can be played the same way, but without the highest notes as drone pitches.
Hello Christopher, great video! Is it possible, to get the sheet music for your piece Epilogue for a Dark Day? I already like this little excerpt very much.
Thanks Alexander! All my scores are available for sale here: christopheradler.com/store.html The complete piece is recorded on the CD by the same title. www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=8004
Does anyone know what the notes are for the long Khaen in D minor?
Wow
Where should I buy one from? Great video :)
Please give us some information where we can buy this flute🤗🤗
What is the blowing technique?
I wonder about the distribution of this instrument: was it a descendant of the Chinese sheng, or was it already widespread in East/Southeast Asia in ancient times?
I have read of a version in Borneo, called _kerurai_ or _serunai_ ; unfortunately, I have found no videos of it.
whats the time signature of this oneer
Hi Christopher, do you have POSAI note? I like to learn but i do not know how to find the notes
If you can read Western notation, this mode is shown in my guide (see the PDF link above). It is Do-Re-Fa-So-La, usually with a drone of high Do (left thumb) and high So (left pinky)
Where can you buy a khaen?
Hola soy de México, me preguntaba si me podrían recomendar en donde puedo adquirir este instrumento? Que sea fiable en comprar
you can order directly from Thailand and they can ship internationally, for example: facebook.com/pongtorn.panphad.9
A guide for caring for the instrument would be great. I bought one from a goodwill. It needs some serious cleaning
Interesting suggestion! I'll consider it. A traditional method of cleaning is to blow an alcohol into it to disinfect. I use white rum in a spray bottle, spray into the hole, then blow into it activating all the pipes so the reeds get coated, and then let the alcohol drip out.
Really admire your work!!!!
I live in Europe and I've searched everywhere but I couldn't find anywhere to buy a khaen online. I'd really really like to learn how to play it (also since I'm a classical flutist, this instrument really catched my attention), so, it would be really nice if someone knew how to buy one online from Europe. Pls help :')
You can order from this maker in Thailand and he can ship to anywhere in the world. facebook.com/pongtorn.panphad.9
@@ChristopherAdler thank you!!
Hi, what material is used to seal the central part?
It is called khisut in Thai. It is the wax of a stringless bee in the trigona genus
@@ChristopherAdler thx for the info and video!
This may be a dumb question but is there any version of the khaen that can play sharp/flat notes?
Not of the khaen, at least not traditionally. Other Asian mouth organs like the Chinese sheng and Japanese sho have some chromatic capabilities. However recently someone in Thailand invented a khaen with more pipes to play some chromatic notes by adding more pipes, but it has not been widely adopted.
@@ChristopherAdler I just ordered my Khaen yesterday and your video has the best info I can find, so thank you for making this!
@@ChristopherAdler Also, I'd love to hear a chromatic Khaen if you have the name of the person whose making them
@@matthewdavis8774 Great I'm glad that it's helpful! Here's the guy who made the partly-chromatic khaen. You might have to scroll through quite a bit but he's posted some videos of it: facebook.com/chumchon.suebwongs
I just got mine and when I blow in it it feels like I bearly blew in it. If you know what I mean. The note le ha is super short for the amount of air
Sounds like a poor quality instrument - especially if the problem is the same on all the reeds. If there's just one note that doens't work right, then the reed may be out of alignment and would have to to be repaired.
@@ChristopherAdler thanks for you reply. I wrote them on Amazon. It is just I Te resting because it takes a lot of breath and power to make sound and it does not last long. It also sounds very airy.
@@ChristopherAdler ua-cam.com/users/shortsQQfdO8wyvRk?feature=share
This is it.
@@DannyNagymusic Oh! All that air noise should not be there. It sounds like there is a leak, and that can come from two things. 1) a cracked pipe. 2) the kisut (black wax) is not fully sealed against the windchest and pipes. #1 is difficult to fix. #2, you can try heating up the kisut with a hair dryer and pushing it down to make sure there are no gaps, Be careful not to overheat it or to dry out the pipes too much. Maybe you can investigate carefully and find the leaky spot before heating it up.
@@ChristopherAdler damn, I wrote the company on Amazon. Let’s see what they write
You are very kind for replying.
You sound amazing, actually you inspired me to learn it !
why am i so stressed all the time i should just vibe
I know you're probably tired of these "buying guide" questions, but do you have any opinions on how to buy ethically?
Obviously, not everyone has the opportunity to travel overseas for a beginners instrument, which pretty much leaves online shopping.
Pretty sure all of us want to avoid a company where all the money goes to a third party and manufacturers are taken advantage of. Any tips on how to avoid these situations would be appreciated.
Also, thanks a lot for the video. Very useful information.
@@inerstate8 Thank you for the comment. See some of the other comments about possibly buying from Amazon. I don't endorse any particular sources just because I cannot attest to the quality or reliability.
Do you sell Khaen for an reasonable price I really want one but don’t have the money 😔
Sorry Jacob, I do not sell khaen.
@@ChristopherAdler oh it’s okay I’ll see if any body else sell them then but thank you
Amazon bro
@@pheth1302 yes sir but Amazon’s doesn’t sell the best Khaen so I bought one from a friend
@@jacobrattanatai7698 hello. Did u buy your Khaen? I just struggling to find a good one and i dont want to buy a fake one. :)
Where can one obtain a reliable Khaen?
They must be obtained directly from makers in Thailand or Laos. Otherwise, it is very difficult to know if they will be any good.
Harmonica players can easily do the tongue flutter while breathing in. I’m wondering what is your technique
คุณช่างเก่งมากๆเป็นฑูตทางวัฒธรรมดรตรีลาวไทยขอบคุณครับ
ฉันเป็นคนไทยที่มาดูฝรั่งสอนเป่าแคนมันไพเราะมาก🥰
Khaen /‘kan ’/ khant academy
The little baby Khaen w/ 3 pairs of Pipes is great for playing Western music
Tell me more, please? Just got a 14 pipe khaen from a market stall and it's a great instrument. Would love to try and make one.
@@TheBellsandwhistles It's ideal for song covers
Excellent video!