<P> The traditional music of Laos has similarities with the traditional music of Thailand and Cambodia, including the names of the instruments and influences and developments . To categorize Lao music, it seems helpful to distinguish between the nonclassical folk traditions (which are presented through the ensembles and instruments used within), the classical music traditions and its basic ensembles, and vocal traditions . </P> <P> The most popular form of music in Laos is the indigenous mor lam . </P> <P> The Lao term "peng Lao deum" (traditional Lao songs) describes the royal court music of Laos . Historical records indicate that an indigenous classical tradition existed, which was mainly influenced by ancient Khmer traditions and mountainous ethnic groups . King Fa Ngum was raised and educated in Angkor Wat, so the Khmer traditions were the first center for the court music, which changed in 1828 when the Siamese sacked Vientiane and slowly infiltrated the musical traditions of the court as well . </P> <P> Today, the court music has mostly vanished . It was considered as "elitist, bourgeoisie" and forbidden by the communist government, and the last performers in Tennessee, USA tried to rebuild the court music in diaspora but failed due to a lack of members . The classical ensemble and its instruments still get used in many Lao traditions today, are only used for the "lam" traditions and the only "theater" like traditions "li - ke" (or "lam poem", from 1940) which immigrated from northern Siam, gets performed with acting, storytelling in "lam" singing styles and a Khene mouth organ, thus remaining the only theater tradition in Laos today . </P>

Musical instrument of laos with pictures and meaning