The Paradigm of Prototypical Khaen Pattern by Sombat Simla

Abstract

          Northeastern folk music is a unique music that is different from other folk music. The important elements of northeastern folk music are slow, medium and fast tempo. There is a melody, known as "Lai" and there is a harmonization arising after playing or singing a single melody. The instrument that is considered to be the identity of the important northeastern folk music is the “khaen”, which is unique in playing and also a masterpiece of the musical instrument of Sombat Simla, who is an artist of northeastern heritage.
          This qualitative research is concerned with the paradigm of the prototypical Khaen pattern of Sombut Simla. This research aims to study the paradigm of prototypical Khaen pattern by Sombut Simla through three periods: (1) from 1992 to 2001; (2) from 2002 to 2011; and (3) from 2012 to 2022, and consisted of six patterns: the Lai-Yai pattern, the Lai-Noi pattern, the Lai-Say pattern, the Lai-Sudsanan pattern, the Lai-Posai pattern and the Lai-Soi pattern, in order to study the music phenomenon through prototypical Khaen pattern of Sombut Simla and creating a performance to demonstrate the skills, roles and functions of perception to explain the development of melody and techniques. The paradigm of prototypical Khaen pattern of Sombut Simla aims to explain the development of music and adaptation to society through the music phenomenon of Sombut Simla. The results of the research showed that the Khaen performance of Sombut Simla is unique. In addition, the ability of Sombut Simla to accurately memorize skills with an excellent auditory nerve. Khaen techniques in music performance by Sombut Simla were assessed by analysis, synthesis with knowledge and experience to his techniques into the identity of playing Khaen that was systematic, patterned, and effective.