Sarama ( th, สะระหม่า) is the music that accompanies the pre-fight ritual of

Muay Thai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

matches (known interchangeably as ''Wai khru ram muay'' or ''Ram muay'').

Terminology

"Sarama" specifically refers to the song played during the pre-fight ritual; subsequent music accompanying is referred to as Phleng Muay (). The music is performed by up to four musicians, consisting of a Pi (quadruple-reed instrument - similar to

Oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. A ...

) player, a pair of

Klong khaek ''Klong khaek'' ( th, กลองแขก, ) is a type of double-headed barrel drum used in Thai music. The term literally means "Indian drum" from the words ''klong'' (กลอง) meaning drum and '' Khaek'' (แขก) meaning Indian or T ...

players, and a

cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...

player (referred to as "ching"). During the Ram Muay the tempo of the music starts out slow and stately to match the mood of the ritual. When the fight commences the tempo is increased and matches the intensity of the audience and action. The music is a defining part of the atmosphere of traditional Muay Thai; other international forms of

kickboxing Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...

do not feature music in a similar way.

Instrumentation

The ensemble used for playing Sarama is known as a Pi Muay, a combination of "Pi" (in reference to the leading "Pi" reed instrument) and

. *Pii Chawaa While name indicates that it is Javanese in origin, the Pi Chawaa closely resembles Indian

shehnai The ''shehnai'' is a musical instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is made of wood, with a double reed at one end and a metal or wooden flared bell at the other end.Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

via trade routes through

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...

. The Pi Chawaa is made of wood and has the similar conical shape and flared bell of a Western

oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. A ...

, except whereas an oboe uses a

double reed A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. In contrast with a single reed instrument, where the instrument is played by channeling air against one piece of cane which vibrates against the mouthpiece and c ...

, Pi Chawaa uses a quadruple-reed. *

A pair of lace drums, with each drum assigned a male or female gender. The drums are played in consistent syncopated rhythm (similar to a

hocket In music, hocket is the rhythmic linear technique using the alternation of notes, pitches, or chords. In medieval practice of hocket, a single melody is shared between two (or occasionally more) voices such that alternately one voice sounds wh ...

). These rhythmic lines patterns are known as "Nathap." Javanese in origin (as with the Pii Chawaa), klong khaek translates "Muslim" ("khaek") "Drum" ("klong"). A similar type of drum exists in Cambodian music. * Ching Also known by its full name "Ching chap," a set of

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

brass cupped

cymbals A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...

. The Ching player plays their own "ching" pattern (contrapuntally to the

"nathap" pattern). This pattern consists of four beats, alternating in accent, with the "Ching" beat unaccented and the "chap" beat heavily accented (creating a pattern known as "ching chap ching chap").

References

External links

Documentary film about Muay Thai musiciansBlog with research and interviews with Muay Thai musicians
Muay Thai Kickboxing terminology Thai styles of music Martial arts culture Muay Thai culture Sports music {{Martialart-stub

Terminology

Instrumentation

See also

References

External links

References