Beats of the Heart The Two Faces of Thailand

Music of Thailand includes a segment on King Bhumibol playing the clarinet., Not unlike “Riverdance” in its scope, this video follows the cross-country tour of a band of musicians and dancers. Sumbatacharon stars and manages his troop of Luk Tung performers, a genre that incorporates traditional folk melodies and Western Pop. Luk Tung is the common person’s entertainment and is also part of the world of kick-boxing and the not-so-nice parts of town. Performances are elaborate and somewhat borderless, covering a multitude of styles and embracing many conventions and non-conventions. This documentary was originally released in 1983.