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Blowing in the windAround the months of June and November of each year, two seasonal monsoons blow hard towards the islands along the Andaman coast. Preceding the monsoon is the local winds known as “Lom Plad†and “Lom Orkâ€. It is at this time that the Sea Gypsy of Koh Lanta organizes their ancient “Loy Ruae†(Boat Launching Ceremony). Throughout the next 3 days and nights, the Chao Le musicians continuously play “Rebana Songs†to the rhythm of “Thon Drum†and all the villagers take turn singing and dancing around the sacred “Pajak Boatâ€.The origin of the “Rebana Song†can be traced back many centuries. The pattern of the song follows the traditional “Puntoon†poetry of 7 verses describing stories of their livelihood and their experiences while venturing in the ocean and assimilating various cultures such as the Hindu-Java culture that appears in the chapter called “The Ark of Ajehâ€, “Koo Nung Chu Raiâ€. Malay and Chinese influences also appear in the songs.“Rebana†and “Thon†drums descend from Indian culture and are widespread around the archipelago of the lower Indochinese Peninsula. “Puntoon†poetry may share the same legend as the drums. Since the Srivijaya period, Siam has inherited the “Cha Nong†lullaby that is similar to Java-Malayan’s “Puntoon†lullaby.Chao Le of Koh Lanta preserves the “Puntoon†performance from generation to generation in the form of “Rebana†and “Norah Kabongâ€, although in their own language of “Uraklavoy†that resembles the Java-Malay language. The Siam-Malay folks (also called ‘Malungsium’) stopped using the Malay language and adopted the Thai language since they first arrived in Koh Lanta over 200 years ago.“Rong Ngeng†is a relatively new culture that came with the arrival of European trading ships. The traditional “Pantoon†songs were blended in with European music of the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch etc. and became the “Rong-Ngeng†song played with Rebana drum, Gong, Violin and step dancing. It became popular in the Java-Malay peninsula and spread into the south of Siam.“Rong-Ngeng†has been popular in Koh Lanta for over a century. It entered Koh Lanta via two routes so there are two kinds of “Rong-Ngengâ€.The Chao Le of “Uraklavoy†directly received “Rong-Ngeng†from Penang Islands. Their existing skill in Rebana influences their “Rong-Ngeng†to possess a more vigorous style. They also keep the traditional way of singing “Puntoon†in the original Malay mixed with their Uraklavoy language. This style of “Rong-Ngeng†is called “Rong-Ngeng†Chao Le. The Thai-Moslems “Rong-Ngeng†was passed on from Satul province. This style is played more softly and in Thai language. It is called “Rong-Ngeng†Tan YongIt is difficult to trace the history of former “Rong-Ngeng†artists. According to the legend, it is the same “Norah Kabong†or “Ma Yong†performer who first sang “Puntoon†and played “Sor Rue Bub†that started the “Rong-Ngeng†tradition. In 1917, a roaming musician named “Toh Bu Kasem†or “Ju Ma Asen†(according to Chao Le) ,accompanied with his Violin, from Penang travelled to Koh Lanta and impressed many with his ‘Rong Ngeng’. He had many local apprentices practicing “Rong-Ngeng†who later formed many professional “Rong-Ngeng†troupes. In 1922, a Mrs. Yaria Yasen went to Penang to study “Rong-Ngeng†singing and dancing. In 1924, Mr. Marn and Mr. Arwang gave a “Rong-Ngeng†performance at Saladan and Cham Islands. About the same time, Mr. Maddear and Mr. Yan Pitukam brought their “Rong-Ngeng†Tan Yong band from Satul to perform at Ra-Mad.With both “Rong-Ngeng†Tan Yong and “Rong-Ngeng†Chao Le, Koh Lanta soon became an islands filled with “Rong-Ngeng†music. It became the most popular form of entertainment. People of all ages gathered at the “Rong-Ngeng†ground in the village to share the experience. It was so popular that the then district chief, Mr. Ya-Le Charoenrit, encouraged local artists to form bands with traditional costumes traveling to various places to promote the music that became known as “Koh Lanta Rong-Ngengâ€. Since then, many more “Rong-Ngeng†bands have flourished around Koh Lanta and elsewhere along the Andaman coast.More than a hundred years have passed, but the same “Dok Re†is still blooming in Koh Lanta. The same “Puntoon†songs are still being performed. Visitors to Koh Lanta can listen to the sound of violin, gong and the Rebana drum mingled with the wind. Any Chao Le will proudly and pleasantly tell them that it is the sound of their “Rong-Ngeng†songs.
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