Lao Music & Culture
This page is a resource for those who are interested in traditional Lao music and culture. Traditionally for the Lao people, music is not notated or archived. For this reason, we have an ongoing effort to notate and archive the music; much of what is here has been transcribed with the help of music masters. Our goal is to make this a central repository of traditional Lao music to all who are interested. Click here for the master list of all notations, midi files, lyrics, and other cultural resources.
Musical Resources: Getting Started
| Type | Source |
|---|---|
| Tuning | Saw U1 Saw U2 Saw E1 Saw E2 |
| Scale | Saw U1 Saw U2 Saw E1 Saw E2 |
| Diagrams | kaen saw U saw E ranahd Drum (Gong Tta Pone) Drum Pattern: Na Hup Lao |
| Drum Loops | Lum Konsawun/Putai/Ban Xok Lum Sarawun Lum Sipundon/Peun/Teuay Lum Tung Waiy |
Music Notation | Notation Systems Standard notation for Lao instruments |
Lao Classics (‘Lao Deuam’) SET 1
| Set 1 | Notes | Audio Files | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lao Kasae | Melody Bass Staff F Staff | midi | |
| 2. Sai Lom Yen | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 3. Champa Meuang Lao | Grid1 Staff | midi | |
| 4. Kinnaly | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 5. Mang Pue | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 6. Jeen Toom | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 7. Teuan Jai Lao | Grid Staff | ||
| 8. Dawk Boua Tong | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 9. Dawk Mai | Grid1 Staff | midi | |
| 10. Mouan Taii (Finale) | Grid Staff | midi |
Lao Classics (‘Lao Deuam’) SET 2
| Set 2 | Notes | Audio Files | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sai Lom Yen v.2 | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 2. Lao Siang Tian | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 3. Lao Lum Pahng | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 4. Kmane Sai Yoke | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 5. Lao Houam Sum Pun | Grid | ||
| 6. Nahk Sa Doong | |||
| 8. Lao Pan Noy | Grid (C) Grid (F) Bass (F) | midi | |
| 9. Sword Dance | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 10. Kup Toom Luang Prabang | Grid Staff Grid Bass | midi | |
| 11. Lao Douang Deuan ver. 1 | Grid Staff Grid Bass | midi | |
| 12. Champa Meuang Lao ver. 2 | Grid Staff staff lead | midi full |
Lao Classics (‘Lao Deuam’) SET 3
| Set 3 | Notes | Audio Files | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lao Douang Deuan Ver. 2 | Staff | midi | |
| 2. Ouay Pon Pi Mai | Grid Staff Grid Bass | midi | |
| 3. Lao Ja Leuan See (instrumental) | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 4. Payng Ppae | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 5. Lao Houam Pao | Intro 1 2 3 4 ending | Intro 1 2 3 4 ending | |
| 6. Lao Ja Leuan See (with vocals) | |||
| 7. Lao Kum Hawm | Grid | ||
| 8. Sinouan | |||
| 9. Souriya | Grid Bass | ||
| 10. Champa Meuang Lao ver. 3 | Staff | midi |
Lao Classics (‘Lao Deuam’) SET 4
| Set 4 | Notes | Audio Files | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houam Pao Lao | Grid | ||
| 2. Kawm Gneun | Grid | ||
| 3. Lao Jao Soo | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 4. Lao Serng | Grid Staff | midi | |
| 5. Lao Douang Deuan | Grid Bass | midi | |
| 6. Lao Ja Leuan See | Grid | ||
| 7. Noke Kao Kmae | Grid | ||
| 8. Pa Pae | Grid | ||
| 9. Sang Arune | Grid Bass | ||
| 10. Tten Sae | Grid | ||
| 11. Sao Lao Lan Xang | Grid Staff Bass | midi | |
| 12. Kup Toom vers. 2 | Grid Staff Bass | midi | |
| 13. Lao Siang Tian Full Version | Grid | ||
| 14. Kinnaly vers. 2 | intro main outro | intro main outro | |
| 15. Champa | Grid | ||
| 16. Sai Lom Yen vers. 3 | Grid staff | midi |
Folk Storytelling (‘Lum’) for Kaen – CENTRAL STYLE
| Central Style | Province | Notes | Audio Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lum Mahaxai | Takaek/Khamouan | ||
| 2. Lum Long | Vientiane | ||
| 3. Lum Gneum | Vientiane |
Folk Storytelling (‘Lum’) for Kaen – NORTHERN STYLE
| Northern Style | Province | Notes | Audio Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lum Puan | Xieng Khuang | ||
| 2. Kup Sum Neua | Sum Neua | ||
| 3. Kup Toom | Luang Prabang | staff | |
| 4. Kup Salahng | Luang Prabang | ||
| 5. Kup Sahm Sao | Luang Prabang | ||
| 6. Kup Mah Yong | Luang Prabang |
Folk Storytelling (‘Lum’) for Kaen – GENERAL
| General | Notes | Audio Files | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lom Putt Pai | |||
| 2. Lum Peuan | |||
| 3. Lum Teuay | |||
| 4. Lum Dern | |||
| 5. Lum Gawn | |||
| 6. Lum Leuang |