Loy Krathong
Thai Folk Song
• Also includes article on Loy Krathong (Festival of Lights)
Era
- 21st Century
Season
- Autumn
Time Signature
- Cut Time (alla breve; 2/2)
Cross Curricular
- Geography
- History / Social Studies
- Reading / Writing / Language Arts
Theme
- Traditions
Origin
- Thailand
Content Type
- Choreography
Tempo
- Moderato
- Ritard / Ritardando
Dynamics
- Mezzo Forte
Form
- First and Second Endings
- Interlude
- Introduction
- Repeat Signs
Movement Type
- Choreography
Classroom Instruments
- Orff Instruments - Pitched
Voicing
- Unison
Language
- English
Rhythm
- Crotchet
- Dotted Crotchet
- Single Quaver
Metre
- Duple
Year Group
- Year 4+
See More
Year 2
Lesson 5: Rests
Year 4
Lesson 30: Organising Beats
Year 5
Lesson : Articulation Affects - Part 2
Year 6
Lesson 8: Mixed Metres
Year 6
Instrument Units
Lesson 0: Recorder Class Method - Unit 2
Instrument Units
Lesson 1: Guitar Class Method - Unit 1
Listening Maps
Lesson : Listening Maps
Disney Music Activities (EYFS & KS1)
Lesson 3: Very First Steps: Sound
Disney Music Activities (EYFS & KS1)
Lesson : Very First Steps: The Beat
Disney Music Activities (EYFS & KS1)
Lesson 2: Very First Steps: Singing
Musicals
Lesson 10: Bebop With Aesop
Musicals
Lesson : Once Upon a Starry Night
New Test Group
Lesson 30: Am I Hearing You Right?
New Test Group
Lesson 28: It's Dynamically Fun!
Global Drumming
Lesson 3: 3. Question and Answer with Echo
Global Drumming
Lesson 4: 4. Double Bell (Gankogui)
Global Drumming
Lesson 5: 5. Rhythm Complements
Global Drumming
Global Drumming
Lesson 2: 2. Low Tone on Drum; Bell
Global Drumming
Lesson 1: 1. High Tone on Drum; Rattle
Thai Folksong
Collected and Transcribed by Kathy Sorensen
Arranged by John Higgins
Copyright © 2010 by Hal Leonard Corporation
International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
Available Learning Resources
Loy Krathong Credits
Thai Folksong
Collected and Transcribed by Kathy Sorensen
Arranged by John Higgins
Copyright © 2010 by Hal Leonard Corporation
International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
Teaching Plan
Loy Krathong
Goals
- Sing a traditional Thai folk song (from Thailand).
- Identify, read, create and perform pick-up notes and rhythmic patterns in 4/4 meter.
- Accompany the song with ching (Thai instrument) or finger cymbals
Materials
- World map
- Rhythm Card #1: Loy, Loy Kra-thong (half note, dotted quarter note, eighth note, dotted half note, rest).
- Rhythm Card #2: This is the ching accompaniment (four quarter note stems with x-shaped note heads on beats 2 and 4).
- Ching (Thai cymbals) or finger cymbals
- Optional: construction paper and glue to create a krathong.
Before You Begin
- About the Song: Dr. Kathy Sorensen collected this song when she interviewed immigrants from Thailand. She asked them what song from their culture they thought should be shared with American children to represent Thailand. "Loy Krathong" was the favorite.
Instructions
-
Loy Krathong is a festival in Thailand. The song "Loy Krathong" is sung at night during the celebration in mid-November to float any bad luck away so that good things can enter their lives.
- Locate Thailand on a world map.
- Loy means "float" and krathong means "little rafts." On this evening, people go to the rivers and waterways to float the little rafts. In addition to krathongs, people also float their bad luck away by using sky lanterns that are flown in the air. This festival is sometimes called the Thai Festival of Lights for this reason.
- Echo-speak, then echo-sing the pronunciation: Loy Krathong: Loy as in "boy" starting with an "l." Krathong is krah tong (the "h" means that the t is aspirated).
- Echo-speak, then echo-sing the pronunciation: Ram wong wan Loy Krathong = rahm wong wahn loy krah tong
- As you listen to the music, read the Student Page (PDF) article about the festival.
- Sing the song together with correct pronunciation.
-
Hold up Rhythm Card #1. This dotted rhythm represents the words Loy, Loy Krathong: half note, dotted quarter note, eighth note, dotted half note, rest.
- Speak the rhythm using rhythm syllables.
- Next, invite volunteers to create body percussion for this rhythm.
- Thai instrument: Ching are a pair of small-cupped Thai cymbals that make a beautiful ringing sound when their sides are struck together. Often, in accompanying songs, a percussive muffled sound is also made by placing the cups together. Most Thai folk songs can be accompanied by alternating the ringing and the percussive sounds. If you do not have ching, you may substitute finger cymbals.
-
Hold up Rhythm Card #2. Play the ching accompaniment: four quarter note stems with x-shaped note heads on beats 2 and 4. (Finger cymbals may be used, if needed.)
- On beats 1 and 3, hit the sides together to make a ringing sound.
- On beats 2 and 4, place the cups together to make a muffled sound.
- Perform the entire song of "Loy Krathong" together, using body percussion from Rhythm Card #1 and ching accompaniment from Rhythm Card #2. Repeat the song to allow other students to play the ching accompaniment.
- Optional: Invite volunteers to draw a picture of a krathong, decorated to show their personalities. Then, imagine each krathong floating their cares away.
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