412.132 Sets of free reeds

Khaen jet, mouth organ with 14 free reeds set into seven pairs of bamboo pipes of graduated sizes.

The khāēn is played in Thailand and Laos. Each of the cane pipes has a metal free reed, mounted into the wall of the tube within the wooden wind chamber. As in the mouth organs of China and Japan, the reed vibrates, sounding a note, when the player closes the fingerhole in the side of the tube. The khāēn jet has two rows of 7 pipes. Music is improvised on the khāēn, and the instrument also accompanies singing. Traditionally, it is always played by men.

Collection Information

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