Musical Instruments at the Library of Congress of USA - 2

Thai Folk Instrument Collection

This collection was presented to the Library of Congress by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 1960. It contains ten Siamese instruments, including a pair of ching (hand cymbals), one thōn and one rammanā (both small hand-played drums), two khlui ū (one small- and one medium-sized bamboo flute, each with red-and-gold-brocade cover), one jakhē (čhakhē, a three-stringed zither, with a red-and-gold-brocade cover), and two sq duang, and two sq ū, (both forms of a vertically played two-string fiddle). Each sq duang and sq ū has a lacquered wood case with blue plush lining; the thōn, rammanā, and ching share a fifth such case. The two hand drums are elegantly ornamented with inlay and the five string instruments have major elements constructed of ivory.