Pong lang โปงลาง

Pong lang xylophone, front. The instrument is made of shaped logs, tuned by removing wood from the center.
Percussion instrument
Classification	Percussion ( idiophone)
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	111.212 (Sets of percussion sticks in a range of different pitches combined into one instrument, struck with a non-sonorous object)

The pong lang ( Thai: โปงลาง, RTGS: ponglang, Thai pronunciation: [pōːŋ.lāːŋ]) is a xylophone from the Isan region of northeast Thailand. ^{[1] [2]} The instrument may be played as a standalone instrument, in pairs with one player playing melody and the other harmonizing, or as part of an orchestra. ^[2] Players use carved two hardwood mallets. ^[2]

The instrument is not standardized and the number of tone bars and their size can vary. ^[2] Unlike the ranat ek lek and ranat thum lek which are strung over a box, the pong lang is hung from a post or tree with the string of tone bars arcing down toward the ground. ^[2] wide to short. The number of tone bars varies, and 12 or 15 tone bars may make up a set. The wider bars with lower pitch sit at the top of the string and the other end (with smaller high-pitched bars) may be hooked to the player's toe or to a belt around the player's waist. ^[2]

When there are two performers, they may sit on opposite sides of the post, facing one another. With two instruments, one plays the melody, the other plays a drone accompaniment or harmonics. ^[2] The pong lang is mostly used for many occasions, especially for festivals and ceremonies. The instrument can be played solo or in an ensemble.

See also

• Ranat
• Ranat thum
• Ranat ek lek
• Ranat thum lek
• Traditional Thai musical instruments
• Luntang
• Amadinda
• Akadinda

References

External links

• Sound clip of the pong lang.
• Photo of Thai instruments. Pong lang is bottom right in photo.

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