Khene facts for kids
The khene (pronounced "ken") is a special musical instrument from Laos. It's like a mouth organ and is made mostly from bamboo pipes. These pipes are connected to a small, hollow wooden part. You blow air into this part to make music. The khene is so important that it's the national instrument of Laos!
Khene music is a big part of life for the Lao people. It helps families and communities feel connected. In 2017, the khene and its music were added to a special UNESCO list, recognizing it as an important part of human culture. While it's mostly known in Laos and Isan (a region in Thailand) today, similar instruments have been around since the Bronze Age. In Cambodia, people use the khene in a dance show called lakhon ken. In Vietnam, the Tai peoples and Muong people also play it.
One of the coolest things about the khene is its "free reed." This tiny part, usually made of brass or silver, vibrates to make sound. Many Western instruments, like the harmonica and accordion, also use free reeds. They were inspired by an older Chinese instrument called the sheng.
The khene can play music in five different styles, called lai. These styles have special main notes, like different musical moods. You can play the khene by itself (called dio khene), or as part of a group of musicians. It's also often played with a singer, especially a Lao or Isan solo singer known as a mor lam.
How the Khene Sounds
The khene has seven different notes in each octave, which is like a set of musical notes. These notes are similar to the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G on a piano. A khene is built to play in a certain musical key. Once it's made and the reeds are set, you can't change its tuning.
Types of Khene
Khenes come in different sizes, usually named after how many pipes they have:
- Khaen hok (แคนหก): This is a small khene with 12 pipes (two rows of 6). Kids or beginners often use it, and it's popular with tourists.
- Khaen jet (แคนเจ็ด): A medium-sized khene with 14 pipes (two rows of 7).
- Khaen paet (แคนแปด): This is the most common type of khene. It's medium-sized and has 16 pipes (two rows of 8).
- Khaen gao (แคนเก้า): A khene with 18 pipes (two rows of 9). These are usually very long.
- Khaen sip (แคนสิบ): This is an "improved" version of the khaen paet, but it's not used very often.
Famous Khene Players
Many talented musicians play the khene. In the United States, a master khene artist is Bounseung Synanonh, who is blind and from Laos. He started playing when he was twelve. He even performed for President Reagan at the White House in 1987! He also played at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2007.
In Thailand, Sombat Simla is a very skilled blind khene player. Some non-Asian musicians have also learned to play the khene. Christopher Adler, a professor, plays and writes music for the instrument. Randy Raine-Reusch from Canada played the khene on albums for famous bands like Aerosmith, The Cranberries, and Yes.
Since the early 2000s, Jonny Olsen, who was born in California, has become well-known in Laos and Thailand for his khene playing. He has appeared on TV shows and performed many concerts. In 2005, he was the first foreigner to win a khene championship in Thailand! Stephen Molyneux from the United States has also played the khene on his own music albums.
