The pong lang ( th,
โปงลาง, , ) is a
xylophone
The xylophone (; ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets. Like the glockenspiel (which uses metal bars), the xylophone essentially consists of a set of tuned wooden keys arranged in t ...
from the
Isan
Northeast Thailand or Isan ( Isan/ th, อีสาน, ; lo, ອີສານ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pali ''īsānna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provi ...
region of northeast
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
.
The instrument may be played as a standalone instrument, in pairs with one player playing melody and the other harmonizing, or as part of an orchestra.
[ Players use carved two hardwood mallets.][
The instrument is not standardized and the number of tone bars and their size can vary.][ Unlike the ranat ek lek and ]ranat thum lek
The ''ranat thum lek'' ( th, ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก, ) is a metallophone used in the classical music of Thailand. It is the larger of the two sizes of Thai metallophone; the smaller one is called '' ranat ek lek''.
The '' ...
which are strung over a box, the pong lang is hung from a post or tree with the string of tone bars arcing down toward the ground.[ wide to short. The number of tone bars varies, and 12 or 15 tone bars may make up a set. The wider bars with lower pitch sit at the top of the string and the other end (with smaller high-pitched bars) may be hooked to the player's toe or to a belt around the player's waist.][
When there are two performers, they may sit on opposite sides of the post, facing one another. With two instruments, one plays the melody, the other plays a drone accompaniment or harmonics.][ The pong lang is mostly used for many occasions, especially for festivals and ceremonies. The instrument can be played solo or in an ensemble.
]
See also
*Ranat
''Ranat'' ( th, ระนาด, , also spelled ''ranad'' or ''ranaat'') is the generic name for keyboard percussion instruments used in the music of Thailand. The bars of the various types of ''ranat'' may be made from hardwood or bamboo ('' rana ...
*Ranat thum
The ''ranat thum'' ( th, ระนาดทุ้ม, ) is a low pitched xylophone used in the music of Thailand. It has 18 wooden keys, which are stretched over a boat-shaped trough resonator. Its shape looks like a ''ranat ek'', but it is lowe ...
* Ranat ek lek
*Ranat thum lek
The ''ranat thum lek'' ( th, ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก, ) is a metallophone used in the classical music of Thailand. It is the larger of the two sizes of Thai metallophone; the smaller one is called '' ranat ek lek''.
The '' ...
*Traditional Thai musical instruments
Traditional Thai musical instruments ( th, เครื่องดนตรีไทย, ) are the musical instruments used in the traditional and classical music of Thailand. They comprise a wide range of wind, string, and percussion instruments ...
*Luntang The luntang is a type of Philippine xylophone of the Maguindanaon people, strung vertically, with five horizontal logs hung in ascending order arranged by pitch. The Maguindanaon refer to this instrument as a luntang while the Yakan call it a kwint ...
*Amadinda
The xylophone (; ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets. Like the glockenspiel (which uses metal bars), the xylophone essentially consists of a set of tuned wooden keys arranged in the ...
* Akadinda
References
External links
Sound clip of the pong lang.Photo of Thai instruments. Pong lang is bottom right in photo.
Thai musical instruments
Keyboard percussion instruments
Isan culture
{{Mallet-stub