page_title: Music of Laos
section_title: Mor lam
hierarchical_section_title: Music of Laos / Mor lam
context_page_description: The music of Laos includes the music of the Lao people, a Tai ethnic group, and other ethnic groups living in Laos. The traditional music of Laos has similarities with the traditional music of Thailand and Cambodia, including the names of the instruments and influences and developments. To categorize Lao music, it seems helpful to distinguish between the nonclassical folk traditions, the classical music traditions and its basic ensembles, and vocal traditions.
  The most popular form of music in Laos is the indigenous mor lam.
context_section_description: Laotian mor lam (also spelled maw lam) is considered purer and more traditional than the forms found in Thailand. It often features the khaen (bamboo and reed mouth organ) and jousting pairs of singers, backed by colorful troupes, who improvise stories and courting duels. The material is often topical, colloquial, sexual and bawdy and is tolerated by the government even when sometimes it is the object of some of the jokes.
  Ensembles typically include two singers (mor lam, the same term referring to the genre of music)— one male and one female—, a khene player (mor khaen), and other instruments including fiddles, flutes and bells.  Music varies widely across Laos, with the lam saravane style being most popular, while the city of Luang Prabang is known for a slow form called khaplam wai.  An extremely popular form developed in Thailand is called mor lam sing, and is faster and electrified.
caption: A khene player in Isan.
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