GPD058 ดนตรีของชาติพันธุ์อาข่า

The Akha people (called “Egaw” by the Thai) are among the most colorfully dressed of the highland people of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces.  These eight musicians came down from the hills to participate in a PATA (Pacific Asia Tourist Association) meeting and performance in Chiang Mai.  Anthropologist Paul Lewis was on hand again to translate the introductions to the tracks, though their leader, Ahlong, could speak Lanna fairly well.

The Akha singing style is most interesting for its use of staggered imitative entrances to phrases and the use of vocal “buzzing” in which the vocal chords are controlled to produce either a smooth or a rough texture.  The photos in folder 02 are of an Akha village, but not of this recording session.  This music must be listened to in stereophonic sound.