Music of Laos The Buddhist Tradition CD

Laos has remained a mystery to most Westerners even after the names of its neighboring countries - Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand - have become commonplace. Music of Laos: The Buddhist Tradition is the result of a collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences in Emden, Germany, and the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos. If Laos is still a mystery to the West, its music is even more obscure. As producer Gisa Jhnichen points out, little research has been done on musical practises in Laos. She determined that only 22 albums were ever issued of Lao music - some on cassette only, many of dubious quality, and most generally unavailable. Apart from the khen, most types of Lao music were woefully underrecorded.

Buddhism has greatly affected both the classical ceremonial ensembles and the rural or folk singing and playing of the farmers and villages. Music happens at all the major events in the Lao calendar, especially at the beginning of the New Year and during full moons, and at weddings, funerals, and other special occasions. The songs performed at these events are not haphazard; there is a strong tradition of prayer and thanksgiving that can be heard at a village wedding as clearly as at a grand temple festival. It is this tradition that is represented on this recording.