| The bamboo flute makers of Ban Laos or Bang | | | | in the hot season and longer during the rainy or |
| Sai Kai, as it's officially known, are descendent's of | | | | cool season. The bamboo has to be turned over |
| migrants from Laos who have settled in Bangkok | | | | continuously to ensure thorough drying until they |
| since the Rattanakosin days when the capital was | | | | turn from green to an even light yellow. |
| established more than 200 years ago. | | | | Next the bamboo is cut to various lengths based |
| Laos communities have lived in Thailand for | | | | on the type of flute required; shorter lengths for |
| centuries. Long before the days of nation states | | | | a higher pitch and longer for a lower pitch. The |
| and national boundaries, there was frequent | | | | eyelet at the bamboo joint is cut away. |
| migration across the Mekong River. Most of them | | | | Polishing of the bamboo tubes is carefully done |
| settled in north eastern Thailand that's contiguous | | | | with grounded bricks covered by the sheath of |
| with present day Laos. It's no coincidence that the | | | | the young coconut fruit. |
| north-eastern Thai or Issarn dialect sounds very | | | | Designs on the surface are made by skillfully |
| much like Laotian. | | | | applying a ladle dipped in molten lead. As an |
| The bamboo flute makers in Ban Laos (Laos | | | | illustration of how designs were made, Khun |
| Village) however started off as musicians when | | | | Nitaya deftly drew straight lines down the length |
| they first settled on the Thonburi side of | | | | of the bamboo along which designs are |
| Bangkok. Later, they took to making flutes | | | | embossed. |
| instead, an instrument as old as music. The | | | | Holes in the flute are then drilled based on precise |
| wisdom of this cultural heritage of two centuries | | | | dimensions and spacing. The flute is filled with |
| has been preserved to the present day. | | | | bees' wax and a heated rod is inserted through to |
| I asked the first group of villagers for the location | | | | melt the wax. This coats the uneven inner |
| of the bamboo flute maker's house. | | | | surface with a layer of wax which hardens on |
| "Which house? Many houses here make flutes." | | | | drying. A consistency of sound is ensured. On |
| Then I realized it's a community of bamboo flutes | | | | completion the holes are cleared of wax. |
| makers, several households! This is evident from | | | | Flutes aren't confined to bamboo. With the advent |
| the piles of bamboo stacked by the lane leading | | | | of mechanical drills, flutes were made from solid |
| to the homes. | | | | wood and later PVC tubes. These bamboo flutes |
| A pleasant and friendly atmosphere pervades the | | | | are made to order and sold nation wide to |
| neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone else. | | | | individual musicians and shops selling musical |
| When I mentioned Khun Jarin, they pointed | | | | instruments. |
| further down the lane. | | | | What about the future of the bamboo flute |
| "Khun Jarin isn't here. His daughter's in the shop." | | | | makers? Who is going to take over from her? All |
| The significance of that remark didn't sink in yet. | | | | her children, nephews and nieces were trained in |
| When I approached another group of neighbors | | | | the skills but who will continue? The most likely |
| and asked for Khun Jarin's home, a middle aged | | | | person is her 16 year old son who is a |
| lady sprang to her feet and identified herself as | | | | professional musician. Yes, he plays the flute. |
| his daughter. She invited me to her home and | | | | Khun Nitaya's love for her work is clear as she |
| workshop. This is her story. | | | | showed me various flutes and sportingly played a |
| Sadly, Khun Jarin the master craftsman, passed | | | | few bars on one of them. |
| away last year (2006) at the age of 77. As the | | | | Lastly, she provided me with a booklet on details |
| eldest in the family, Khun Nitaya has continued the | | | | of the flute making process, the types of wood |
| family tradition in the very house where she was | | | | used, the types of flutes, the finer points in |
| born. | | | | adjusting the sounds of the finished flute and the |
| She spoke fondly of her neighborhood that's | | | | history of her community. |
| more than 200 years old and glowed with pride | | | | This document is virtually a comprehensive |
| when she mentioned that Wat Bang Sai Kai, the | | | | bamboo flute makers manual. But it's going to |
| neighborhood temple, was built by the Laos | | | | take more than just a manual to acquire this |
| community. Then she spoke of her main passion; | | | | centuries-old handicraft. It's got to be in your |
| the craft of the bamboo flute makers. | | | | blood. |
| It all starts in Saraburi, a province 100 km | | | | I must record my deepest appreciation to Khun |
| north-east of Bangkok, the source of raw | | | | Nitaya for her admirably warm hospitality. She |
| material for the bamboo flute makers. The | | | | displayed a deep pride in her profession and |
| bamboo comes from the foothills in the famous | | | | willingly provided me with all the information on |
| district where Buddha left his footprint. | | | | the craft and tradition of the bamboo flute |
| Bamboo is cut and dried in the sun for 7 -14 days | | | | makers of Ban Laos. |