Ranat

The ranat is a traditional Thai percussion instrument and a member of the xylophone family. It refers to a class of wooden-bar instruments that play melodic lines in Thai classical music, especially in ensembles such as piphat and mahori.

Construction and design: The ranat consists of a row of tuned wooden bars suspended over a resonator system, typically a wooden frame with resonator troughs or boxes beneath the bars to amplify the sound. Bars are usually made of hardwood and arranged from high to low pitch. The instrument is struck with mallets, and players control tone and dynamics through attack, articulation, and choice of mallets, producing a bright, clear timbre.

Main varieties: The two principal forms are ranat ek (high-pitched) and ranat thum (low-pitched). Ranat ek carries most of the melodic material in many ensembles, while ranat thum provides lower voices and harmonic support. Smaller variants such as ranat lek exist for specific ensembles or educational purposes and can be tuned to different ranges.

Playing context: The ranat is typically played by a seated musician using one mallet in each hand, though configurations vary by repertoire. Mallet heads can be hardened for brightness or softened for a mellower tone, and players use precise timing and phrasing to articulate complex Thai melodic lines.

Historical and cultural role: The ranat has a long history in Thai music, appearing in ceremonial, court, theater, and religious contexts. It remains a central instrument in traditional Thai ensembles and continues to appear in contemporary performances and fusion styles.