Khryang Sai Ensemble  

    Wong Khryang Sai (Khryang Sai = String ensemble): The String ensemble consists of saw-duang, saw-u, Jakhae, Khlui, and the set of percussion instruments: Ching, Chab, Thone-Ram Mana and Mong. This ensemble is further divided into four kinds in accordance with its size and different instruments.

Khryang Sai Wong Lek
Khryang Sai Khryang Khu
Khryang Sai Pi Chawa
Khryang Sai Prasom

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Khryang Sai Wong Lek(small size of string ensemble) has the following instruments:

One Saw Duang
One Saw U
One Jakhae
One Khlui Phiang Aw                   One Thone-Ram ma na
One Ching
One Chab lek

Any percussion instruments was added sometime as needed.

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Khryang Sai Khryang Khu ( a couple of melodic instruments) consisted of the following instrument:

Two Saw Duang
Two Saw U
Two Jakhae
One Khlui Lip
One Thone- Ram ma na
One Khlui Phiang Aw                   One Group of Percussion.

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Khryang Sai Pi Chawa (String Ensemble with Pi Chawa) has changed from the Khryang Sai Wong Lek.   Glawng Khaek, Khlui, and Thone- Ram ma na were replaced by Pi Chawa and Glawng Khaek. Thus the Khryang Sai Pi Chawa comprises the following instruments:

One Saw Duang
One Saw U
One Pi Chawa
One Pair of Glawng Khaek
One Ching
One Khlui Lip
One Jakhae

And a set of rhythmic percussion. This ensemble is not popular because good Pi Chawa player are rare and because its sound is not very pleasant.

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Khryang Sai Prasom (Mixed Strings with other instrument ensemble) represented a new idea of mixing other instruments that were not used in the string ensemble to the Khryang Sai, the Ranad Tong (metal high pitch ranad), Oboe, cello and Saw-Sam-Sai, etc. The mixed Khryang Sai has been used since World War I. The organ in the string ensemble was very popular and was usually played in the old style of Ayuthaya, i.e., to accompany the vocal solo.

One Saw Duang
One Saw U
One Jakhae
One Thone- Ram ma na
One Khlui Phiang Aw or                One Khim

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