Thailand is known as the "Land of the Free" as it was never ruled by Western powers. Thai music is influenced by Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian styles and uses various percussion and wind instruments. Traditional Thai folk music features simple melodic lines and focuses on articulating the text rather than complex singing styles. The three primary Thai instrumental ensembles are the Piphat, Khrueang Sai, and Mahori, each featuring different combinations of percussion, wind, and string instruments. In Malaysia, music is influenced by Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian cultures and emphasizes percussion. Traditional ensembles include the Agung, Kulintang, Kertok, Dikir Barat and Silat Melay

1. Let's travel to...
Thailand

2. Chiang Mai
Largest city in
Northern Thailand

3. THAILAND
Thailand is formerly known as “Siam” came from the Sanskrit
word which means dark or brown that refers to their skin
color.
It is known for being the sole nation in Southeast Asia that
has never been ruled by a Western power.
It is for this reason that the country is also called “Muang
Thai,” which means “Land of the Free.”

4. History and geography indicates that Thai music is a
conglomeration of Asian influences. Its musical principles
and elements are basically derived from Chinese music,
while its musical instruments are inspired from the Indian
and Indonesian strings and gong-chimes.
THAILAND

5. THAILAND
Music is theoretically based on the five-tone or seven-
tone scale system. It is not only confined to the royal courts
but is also used extensively in dance, theatre, and in
ceremonies.

6. THAILAND
Thai folk music consists of simple songs with simple
melodic lines. Its main focus in singing is the articulation of
the text rather than the style or technique of execution.

7. THREE PRIMARY
INSTRUMENTAL
ENSEMBLES OF
THAILAND

8. Piphat Ensemble
Khrueang Sai
This ensemble has different types but the highly ornate one is traditionally
associated with funerals and cremation ceremonies.
- used to accompany specific forms of traditional Thai drama such as the
large shadow puppet theatre (nang yai) and the khon dance drama.
It is an orchestra that combines some of the percussion and wind
instruments of the Piphat with an expanded string section. This
group is primarily used for indoor performances and for the
accompaniment of stick puppet theater.

9. Mahori Ensemble
This ensemble is traditionally played by women in the
courts of Central Thailand and Cambodia. Because of
this, instruments for this ensemble are historically
smaller.

10. Arts and Culture of..
Thailand

11. SKY LANTERN
(Wish Lantern)
Flying lanterns that are made out of
rice paper with a bamboo frame,
which contain a fuel cell or small
candle. When the fuel cell is lit, the
flame heats the air inside the lantern,
causing the lantern to rise.

12. SKY LANTERN
They are also commonly known have become
popular on the main tourist beaches of
Phuket. Wander down to the beach on most
nights and you will find locals selling wish
lanterns for a small cost. Light your candle,
make your wish, and once your wish lantern
is floating skyward, sit back and enjoy.

13. Loy Krathong
This festival is held on
the night of the 12th full
moon, usually in
November.
with Chiang Mai believed to
have the brightest and most
spectacular celebrations.

14. Loy Krathong
It is celebrated to pay
respects to the goddess of
water – Phra Mae
Khongkha by releasing
beautiful lotus shaped rafts
with colored candles and
flowers, and incense.

15. Sculpture
Thailand is world-famous for its sculpture that dates back 4,000 years. The
most commonly used materials are wood, stone, ivory, clay, and various
metals. The most notable sculptures are the Thai bronzes famous for their
originality and grace.

16. WAT PHO
46 meters long and 15 meters high
It is made of plaster on a brick core
and finished in gold leaf.

17. Let's travel to...
Malaysia

18. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia.
It is divided into two regions:
1. WEST MALAYSIA
– also known as Peninsular Malaysia
2. EAST MALAYSIA - consists of thirteen states and three
federal territories. Chinese and Indian cultural influences
made their mark when trade began in the country.
MALAYSIA

19. Malaysian music is largely based around percussion
instruments. It has multi- cultural influence and is believed
to have originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region with a
mixture of Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian influences.
MALAYSIA

20. THE MUSIC OF MALAYSIA MAY BE CATEGORIZED INTO TWO
TYPES:
1. CLASSICAL AND FOLK MUSIC
- Emerged during the pre-colonial period and still exists in the form of
vocal, dance, and theatrical music.
2. SYNCRETIC OR ACCULTURATED MUSIC
- Developed during the post-Portuguese period (16th century). It
contains elements from both local music and foreign elements of
Arabian, Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Western musical and theatrical
sources.
MALAYSIA

21. MUSICAL ENSEMBLES
AND TYPES OF
PERFORMANCES IN
MALAYSIA

22. Agung and Kulintang
Kertok
This is a gong-based musical ensemble commonly used in
funerals and weddings in East Malaysia. This type of ensemble is
similar to the kulintang of the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia.
This is a musical ensemble from the Malay Peninsula that consists
of xylophones played swiftly and rhythmically in traditional Malay
functions.

23. Dikir Barat
Silat Melayu
This is a type of musical form that is important to Malaysia’s
national culture. It is performed by singing in groups and often
in a competitive manner usually with percussion instrumental
accompaniment or sometimes without instruments at all.
This is a form of martial art that is similar to t’ai chi. It is
originated in the Malay Peninsula since the Christian Era and is
a mixture of martial arts, dance, and music usually
accompanied by gongs, drums, and Indian oboes.

24. Malaysia
Arts and Culture of..

25. Wau Kite
a uniquely designed Malaysian kite
Its wings are similar to an Arabic
letter (pronounced "wow")

26. Wau
Kite
Farmers used kites as scarecrows in the fields
and as a means to lull their children to sleep, so
they could work with little interruption. Now, kite
flying has become a popular sport not just in
Malaysia but also internationally. Malaysia has
been celebrating kite festivals annually like the
“Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival”.

27. Malaysia
SCULPTURE in..

28. These are partially carved into or out of another
surface. These sculptures rely on a base or plane
to support them and are a combination of both
three-dimensional and two-dimensional art
forms.
Relief

29. 3 Main Types of Relief Sculptures
Sunken
Bas
Alto
an image that is
carved into the
surface, rather than
out of it
a relief that barely extends
past the base- common as
wall decorations on Greek or
Roman buildings and are
the type mostly seen on the
Colosseum
is almost completely carved
from its surface- highly
shaped, with very little of
the structure touching the
base or plane.

30. Alto (High Relief)

31. Bas (Low Relief)

32. Sunken

33. The best Malay woodcarving is from
Terengganu and Kelantan. Passed down from
one generation to another, the craft is divided
into ukiran halus (fine carving) and ukiran kasar
(literally meaning “rough carving”).

34. involves the carving of
relief patterns, hilts of
keris (short Malay
dagger), bed heads,
and cupboard tops.
Ukiran Halus

35. refers to the carvings
on larger objects like
furniture, pillars,
windows, room
portions, and eaves of
roofs.
Ukiran Kasar

36. Thank you!