Lan Na Thai

The pre-recorded sounds for this composition are available at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r4cxrqhbqy1wct4e237pp/lan_na_thai_prs.mp3?rlkey=y7z93yeite6i5w8oozyj028a9e=1st=5eo2ic3idl=0. Lan Na Thai was composed during 2008 at the request of Dr. Andy Wen for a performance at the 2009 Saxophone Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.

The composition has three movements with each titled after a different period in Thailand history. The piece is loosely programmatic as it tries to capture the general mood of each era, rather than specific events. I. Sukhothai (The Dawn of Happiness), this movement reflects the ideal state, a land of plenty, and is peaceful. II. Ayutthay, this movement reflects a period of wealth that is characterized by wars Burma. III. The Chakri Dynasty, this movement reflects the more hectic pace of modern society where Thailand moves from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Folk music of Thailand is built on seven-note scale of equal intervals. The fourth and seventh notes of this scale are often used only for ornamental purposes. In order to approximate this scale, a pentatonic scale is used as it is like a major scale with the fourth and seventh tones removed.

The pre-recorded sounds approximate some of the instruments traditionally used in Thai folk music. This composition recorded by Jason T. Laczkoski on the CD Come Down Heavy! and Andy Wen on the CD Apparitions.