Thamkrabok Monastery is a buddhist monastery situated some 2 hours north of Bangkok and has been an active force in Thai culture since the late 1950's.It has gained worlwide popularity for its work in 'healing' and treatment for people suffering from all kinds of illness, most notably 'addiction'.
What many people do not know is that Thamkrabok is one of Thailand's most impressive education centres, offering new ideas on art and music in the modern world. Thousands of people visit the monastery every month. From schools, hospitals and universities, both Thai and foreigners come to learn about the unique methods the monks use to live a modern life that does not shy from technology but maintains a special relationship with nature and the environment.
The first volume of Thamkrabok Music is now available from iTunes
The abbot of the monastery, Luang Por Charoen Parnchand is the life force of the monastery and it is from his visions that the community of Thamkrabok build upon.
He has always beleived that nature has its own music and as an enlightened buddhist monk it has always been possible to hear it. Always a person to want to share his discoveries, he developed a method for everyone to be able to unlock the melodies of the earth.
Although it sounds very 'abstract' as a concept, it is quite scientific in its approach.
The practice of extracting the earth's melodies are done like this: One must find a naturally created 'line'. For example, a crack in a mountain or the line of a tree bark. With transparent plastic paper, one would then 'trace' the line. After this, the paper with the line is placed over a special graph (devised by Luang Por himself). This graph is layed out in such a way that when the 'traced line' is placed on it, the graph will indicate the notes and rhythm of the 'traced line'.p
So it really does create a tune whose source was lying in a mountain. Music therapist's and scientist's have made experiments in the monastery to test human reaction to music made in this way and the results have been startling. Listening to this music has shown that the listener's pineal gland opens and one becomes receptive to the healing energy of the music.
The monks, nuns and lay people of the monastery's community have been making music like this for twenty years and have a catalogue of over 10 000 songs. In 2003, UK singer songwriter and producer, Tim Arnold was invited to stay in the monastery to make an album. With his arrival, a proper recording facilty was built by the monks and now, much of their own work is being recorded to a much higher professional standard than ever before. Luang Por is also a poet of sorts and his words have been put to music by some of the most revered classical musicians in Thailand.
Many musicians from the UK have also spent time at the monastery to record their own music and Luang Por's music and any one from the music world (amateur or proffessional) is always welcome to stay and find their own 'space' in this remarkable setup.
If anyone wishes to obtain recordings from Thamkrabok or is interested in being involved in making any music, as an artist, producer or engineer, then please contact Tim Arnold
We hope you enjoy the tunes!
