KHIM Club |
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The khim (pronounced "kim," with a rising tone, in Thai) is a hammered dulcimer from Thailand and Cambodia. It is made of wood and trapezoidal in shape, with numerous brass strings. It is played with two flexible bamboo sticks and is used as both a solo and ensemble instrument.
The instrument was introduced to Thailand and Cambodia from China, where a similar (though usually larger) instrument is called yangqin; the khim produces a significantly softer sound. Traditional khim have two bridges, though in the late 20th century some players began using larger instruments with more bridges.
khim from jackfruit wood. As beautiful as it is melodic, this instrument takes its name from its shape; kang moo means "square" or "trapezoid." Devas (Thai angels) adorn the piece. Similar to the dulcimer, the khim features 42 bronze strings. It is played by striking them with rubber-tipped bamboo rods. "This is an elegant musical instrument," Iverse confides. "Its sound flies from the musician's heart like a butterfly." The khim includes playing sticks, a wooden stand and carrying case. Additional strings and a tuning fork are also included. |
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