Various BRAO sub groups live on both sides of the boarder in Laos and Cambodia. Here is a selection of instruments : the DINGBOO, the UMBOOK, the JINGRIANG, the GAWDING, and the THAI...


1 “ding boo” Played by four women from the Kanying sub-group (with another assisting) using two long green bamboo sections (ding boo) crossed over each other. One woman hits her palm against the opening at the end of one of the sections, and another woman claps her hands in a cupped fashion at the other end of the bamboo section. The same goes for the second bamboo section. Nam Souan (Dak Joor) Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
2 “umbook”. Played by a woman from the Kanying sub-group using a pan flute made of small bamboo sections of different lengths. The sound is very soft. Nam Souan (Dak Joor) Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
3, 4, 5 “jing riang me loun”. Played by one man from the Kanying sub-group, Ya Bounma, using a ten stringed instrument plucked using both hands (jing riang). Eetoum Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
6, 7, 8 Played and sung by one man from the Kanying sub-group, Ya Bounma, using a ten stringed instrument plucked using both hands (jing riang) with a pair of cymbals. Eetoum Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
9 “me katree dung an”. Played by one man from the Kavet sub-group, Ya Dol, using a single stringed instrument played with a bow (ouat draw). This song is about women foraging in the forest to find wild cassava to eat. Phouhom Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
10 “gaw mat”. Played by one ethnic Kavet sub-group man, Ya Khamdeng, this stringed bamboo section (gawng ding) is made to replicate the sound of a set of five gongs (gawng cheung play). Phouhom Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
11 “jing riang”. Played by one man from the Kavet sub-group, Ya Dol, using a ten stringed instrument that is plucked with both hands (jing riang). Some Kavet now plays this instrument, but it is believed to have originated with the Kreung and Tampouan peoples in northeastern Cambodia. Phouhom Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.
12 “Thai taluk Kavet”. Played by two men from the Kavet sub-group using a pair of same-sized flat gongs (Thai). The musicians sit at opposite sides of the hung gongs, and each hits them with two long sticks. This particular set of “Thai” was once valued at 150 buffaloes and is called “Thai douay”. It is one of the best sounding “Thai” around. The Kavet are known for being some of the best “Thai” players amongst the Brao. Phouhom Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, March 2006.

RECORDED BY LAURENT JEANNEAU and IAN BAIRD (photo)