Homrong Isaan | โหมโรงอสาน “Isaan Overture”
Full Orchestra
Premiered May 14, 2023. Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Cordier Auditorium, North Manchester, Indiana.
Program Notes:
Homrong Isaan is in three parts. The first is influenced by Luk Thung and Luk Krung, two styles of Thai popular music that I grew up listening to here in the states. The second part is the “Thai Classical Music Section” with the marimba mimicking the Thai Ranad Ek, the Oboe modeling the quadruple reeded Pi Nai and the Flute playing the role of the Thai bamboo flute, Khlui. The last section is in the style of Mor Lam, a folk music genre in the Isaan region of Northeast Thailand and Laos and is especially influenced by especially the Khaen, a type of bamboo mouth organ, and the Phin, a plucked lute from the region.