The ''ranat thum lek'' ( th, ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก, ) is a

metallophone A metallophone is any musical instrument in which the sound-producing body is a piece of metal (other than a metal string), consisting of tuned metal bars, tubes, rods, bowls, or plates. Most frequently the metal body is struck to produce sound, ...

used in the classical music of Thailand. It is the larger of the two sizes of Thai metallophone; the smaller one is called ''

ranat ek lek The ''ranat ek lek'' ( th, ระนาดเอกเหล็ก, ) is a metallophone used in the classical music of Thailand. It is the smaller of the two sizes of Thai metallophone; the larger one is called ''ranat thum lek''. This musical ...

''. The ''ranat thum lek'' consists of flat metal slabs placed over a rectangular wooden resonator. It is played with two bamboo sticks with padded ends. The origin of this instrument is attributed to the brother of

King Rama IV Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...

(1854–1868) the same time as the creation of ''roneat ek lek''. The ''ranat thum lek'' is very similar to the Khmer ''

roneat thong Roneat ( km, រនាត) is the generic Khmer word for referring to several types of xylophones used in traditional Cambodian music; the pinpeat and mohaori. Roneat may refers to several Cambodian xylophone types such as roneat thmor, roneat e ...

''.

References

External links

Listening

Khryang Tii : hit instruments (made of metal) page
from SEAsite Plaque percussion idiophones Keyboard percussion instruments Thai musical instruments {{Mallet-stub