Overview
Salin, a drummer and producer from Thailand, embarks on a 10-day journey in Isaan to explore the music, instruments, and traditions of the Nyah Kur tribe, documenting their evolving yet endangered cultural heritage.
Introduction to the Nyah Kur Tribe
- Salin visits the Nyah Kur village, an indigenous community dating back to the Khmer kingdom.
- The tribe actively practices and preserves traditions but faces cultural erosion.
- Uncle Plean, a community leader, works to promote Nyah Kur language and traditions.
Culinary Traditions and Daily Life
- Tribe members introduce "Lin Ma," a dessert shaped like a dog's tongue, made from banana, coconut, sugar, and sesame.
- Participants experience communal food preparation and tasting.
- Local snacks like "miang" (one-bite wrap) are shared, highlighting regional culinary diversity.
Musical Instruments and Rhythms
- The group brings recording equipment to capture live performances.
- "Rum tone" is a traditional rhythm used for dance, foundational to modern Isaan music.
- "Pa-ray-ray" is a unique rhythm for flirtatious songs or poems, featuring a push-and-pull pulse.
- The "puaj," a bamboo jew harp, is demonstrated and sampled for Salin's music, historically used for forest signaling.
- Leaves are repurposed to mimic animal sounds and for communication; playing the leaves proves challenging for newcomers.
Repurposed Plant Instruments
- The "juppeng," made from three sections of bamboo, creates distinct sounds and was originally used to protect crops from animals.
- Recording sessions capture these traditional instruments for documentation and creative use.
Living with the Nyah Kur
- Salin joins the tribe in the forest, learning about their traditional lifestyle of foraging, hunting, and simple living.
- Meals include grilled meat, sticky rice, and wild-foraged leaves, consumed communally.
Cultural Activities and Integration
- Nyah Kur elders engage guests in water drumming by the river, a playful group tradition also seen in other global cultures.
- Salin surprises the Nyah Kur with a newly created track incorporating recorded samples from their instruments and voices.
Decisions
- Sample Nyah Kur instrument performances for use in Salin's music with permission.
- Document and share Nyah Kur musical and cultural practices through recordings and personal creative work.
Action Items
- TBD – Salin: Continue exploring other Isaan communities and document additional musical traditions for future episodes.