Another View on Khmu Flute Songs in Mainland Southeast Asia

Khmu Flute Songs in Mainland Southeast Asia were already part of deeper investigations, which are reviewed here, yet some new points appeared since then. Updated re-readings need to be undertaken much more often in recent times. This paper is based on it and represents a small personal study of available materials won over time during manifold fieldwork experiences in Laos among Khmu people. It will shed light on the social construction of archaic societal structures and their transformation into the recent working units. Taking Khmu Flute Songs as an indicator for the presence of traditional power, these songs are re-investigated from a historical viewpoint. Special emphasis is also given to the individualization of knowledge and the unification of their streamed applications on another level. This small-scale study may contribute to the body of knowledge on musical practice as an indicator and result of social changes in the history of humankind.