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| Lanna Sacred Spaces One DVD |
Lanna Sacred Spaces One - 2007
Twelve tracks of traditional Northern Thai (Lanna) dance, which I filmed in March and April 2007 near my house in Chiang Mai. I composed and played all the music on the DVD, and did all the post-production work, completing it in May 2007. The music is based on traditional Lanna forms, placed in a world music context. Half of the tracks feature the Renaat Ek, which is a form of xylophone, probably originating from the time of the Khmer empire, which encompassed Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao, and Thailand. The Renaat Ek is said to have magical powers by the Thai, the best performers being able to send energy to the listeners, and even (it is said) to control the weather. My intention was to create a view of the vibrant traditional life of the local people, which is not seen by casual visitors to Chiang Mai. I was the only foreigner present at the festivals where I filmed. The final track shows the initiation of a new monk at Wat Don Chan, and the robing ritual (which only men are allowed to observe). The artwork below is the image I use for the DVD. I used the King's flower, which comes from a bright yellow flowering tree, in bloom during late April and early May. I also photographed the five-petalled Lii Laa Waa Dee flowers which grow in my garden. Every Wat (temple) I have been to in Thailand has this tree. It has a very beautiful fragrance, and has a similar vibration to a rose. The graceful and beautiful dancing figure in gold to the left and right of the image were photographed by my daughter Tamsin at a Wat in Chiang Mai.
Thank you for your interest in the DVD. You can watch compressed and shortened excerpts from the DVD by clicking on the YouTube videos below. They are also found at my YouTube Director's site, http://www.YouTube.com/YogaBeatGuy. If you wish to see the entire DVD, you can buy it for $20 using a credit card, by clicking on the "Add to Cart" button at the bottom of the page. Free shipping over $70 total!
