Music of Southeast Asia
is best heard as an introductory sampler to the music of Burma, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. On
"Burma: Shan Song,"
San Toke
's gentle pentatonic singing weaves through percussion and aereophone accompaniment. With
"Malaya: Chinchem (Temiar Dream Song),"
the Temiar people sing and play drums and gongs in an effort to induce trance. Western and traditional Thai instruments are combined on
"Admiration of a Sleeping Maiden."
Composed by
Yakob
, this early
world
music fusion features suggestive lyrics about the fondling of a maiden's lotus flowers. All in all,
is a fascinating introduction to the complex and variegated realm of musical cultures found in this area of the world. And
Henry Cowell
's liner notes help to contextualize this heterogeneity. ~ John Vallier