Thai Folk Instrument Collection
Musical Instruments at the Library of Congress

This collection was presented to the Library of Congress by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 1960. It contains ten Siamese instruments, including a pair of ching (hand cymbals), one thōn and one rammanā (both small hand-played drums), two khlui ū (one small- and one medium-sized bamboo flute, each with red-and-gold-brocade cover), one jakhē (čhakhē, a three-stringed zither, with a red-and-gold-brocade cover), and two sq duang, and two sq ū, (both forms of a vertically played two-string fiddle). Each sq duang and sq ū has a lacquered wood case with blue plush lining; the thōn, rammanā, and ching share a fifth such case. The two hand drums are elegantly ornamented with inlay and the five string instruments have major elements constructed of ivory.