''Pi'' (, ) is the generic term for any of a variety of quadruple reed

oboes The oboe ( ) is a type of double-reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common type of oboe, the soprano oboe pitched in C, ...

used in the traditional

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, '' piphat''. It is very similar in construction and playing technique to Burmese Hne and Cambodian '' sralai''.

Varieties

An entirely different instrument, a bamboo

free reed A free reed aerophone is a musical instrument that produces sound as air flows past a vibrating reed in a frame. Air pressure is typically generated by breath or with a bellows. In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, it is number 412.13 (a member of ...

pipe called ''pi chum'' (ปี่จุม), is used by the

Lanna The Lan Na kingdom or the Kingdom of Lanna (, , "Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields"; , , ), also known as Lannathai, was an Indianized state centered in present-day Northern Thailand from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The cultural developme ...

Northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is a region of Thailand. It is geographically characterized by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys that cut through them. ...

Pi nok

The ''pi nok'' is smallest among pi nok, klang, and nai. Pi noks have been played since the ancient times.

Pi nai

The ''pi nai'' (41–42×4.5 cm) is commonly seen in Thai literature such as ''Phra Aphai Mani''.

Pi cha nai

The ''pi chanai'' is ''pi song thon'' (ปี่สองท่อน, ''pi'' that consists of two parts). The body part is called ''lao pi'' (เลาปี่), the mouthpiece part is called "lamphong" (ลำโพง). Both parts are made from wood or ivory. It is presumed that the Thais obtained this musical influence from

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

due to its similarity to the Indian

shehnai The ''shehnai'' is a type of oboe from the Indian subcontinent. It is made of wood, with a double reed at one end and a metal or wooden flared bell at the other end. It was one of the nine instruments found in the royal court. The shehnai is sim ...

. ''Pi'' have been used in Thai since the Sukhothai period. At present, it is played together with the ''pi chawa'' in parades and in concerts.

Pi chawa

The ''pi chawa'' is ''pi song thon'' (ปี่สองท่อน) (pi that consist of two parts) like the ''pi chanai'', but longer. It is made from wood or ivory. It is presumed Thais took on introducing the pi chawa as same time as the glong khaek. From some evidence, they used pi chawa in ''Krabuan Phayuhayattra'' (กระบวนพยุหยาตรา, military march) in the pre-Ayutthaya period. The ''pi chawa'' today is used mostly during funeral rites.

Pi chum

A pi chum () is a musical instrument from northern Thailand. It is like an oboe. It is found in the provinces of

Chiang Mai Chiang Mai, sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, second largest city in Thailan ...

Chiang Rai Chiang Rai (, ; , ) is the northernmost major city in Thailand, with a population of about 200,000 people. It is located in Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province. Chiang Rai was established as a capital city in the reign of King Ma ...

, Lampoon and Lampang. People play a pi chum for their activity. The word "chum" in Thai means "group", so when people play a pi chum, they play as a group.

Construction

The body of the pi chum is made from bamboo. The pipe and the reed are made from copper. A pi chum has seven holes on the body that are used to set the tone of played. There are four types of pi chum that are separated by size, length and voice. The first one is the pi mae ( Thai: ปี่แม่) which has a length of 70–80 cm. It is larger than other pi chums and has a bass voice. The second one is the pi krang ( Thai: ปี่กลาง), which is smaller than the pi mae. It has a length of 60–65 cm. and it has a balance voice. The third one is pi koy ( Thai: ปี่ก้อย), which is smaller than the pi krang but bigger than the pi tad. It has a length of 45–55 cm. The voice of the pi koy is treble. The last type is the pi tad (Thai: ปี่ตัด) or pi lek ( Thai: ปี่เล็ก), which is the smallest pi chum. It has a length 35–40 cm. The voice of pi tad is treble but higher than the pi koy. A group that has all four instruments is called a ‘pi chum si’ ( Thai: ปี่จุมสี่) and a group that has three instruments is called a ‘pi chum sarm’ ( Thai: ปี่จุมสาม).

Pi mon

The ''pi mon'' is ''pi song thon'' (ปี่สองท่อน, pi that consist of two parts) like pi chawa but greater. ''Lao pi'' (เลาปี่, the body of ''pi'') is made from wood. ''Lamphong'' (ลำโพง, the mouth of ''pi'') is made from metal. The ''pi mon'' is played usually in the ''

piphat mon A ''piphat'' () is a kind of ensemble in the Art music, classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments. It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compos ...

'' ensemble or in the old called ''pi phat raman'' ensemble. เครื่องดนตรีประเภทเครื่องเป่า
This type can be played in any occasion as well, like funerals and concerts.

Pi nae

The ''pi nae'' is the northern Thai equivalent of the Burmese Hne. It is often played in ensembles in northern Thailand that are similar to the ''piphat, piphat mon,'' and ''

Hsaing waing The ''hsaing waing'' (, ; also spelt ''saing waing''), commonly dubbed the Burmese traditional orchestra (မြန်မာ့ဆိုင်း), is a traditional Burmese folk musical ensemble that accompanies numerous forms of rituals, performan ...

'' traditions.

References

External links

Sound sampleNorthern Thai piphat ensemble using a Pi Nae
Quadruple-reed instruments Thai musical instruments {{woodwind-instrument-stub