Tha: flat gongs in Cambodia & Laos (2004-2006)

A very unique way of using gongs in this part of South East Asia, the Nyaheun and mostly some subgroups of the Brao in Southern Laos as much as in Northern Cambodia have developed this technique. During animist ceremonies, two men are facing each others sitting on the ground or on the bamboo floor of the house, having set up 2 thick flat gongs hanged between them, each man hit the gongs with 2 long bamboo sticks. One hits the inside of the gongs while the other hits the outside, developing rhythms on that basis. They use the word "tha" or "thai" for this pair of gongs and the paid is usually of higher value than normal gongs.
The Nyaheun is a small ethnic group, which music combines gongs, mouth organ and melancholic "molam" (singing). They are close to the Brao, therefore using this Brao gong technique of tha.
The Brao belongs to the Mon-khmer family and are the first inhabitants of this area, spread over Cambodia and Laos. The Kavets are the pros of thai playing.