The ranat ek (Thai: ระนาดเอก, pronounced [ranâːt ʔèːk], "also xylophone") is a musical instrument from Thailand in the percussion family. It has 22 wooden bars that hang from strings over a boat-shaped hollow sound box. The bars are struck with two mallets. The ranat ek is the main instrument in the piphat ensemble.
The bars of the ranat ek are usually made from rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri; Thai: ไม้ชิงชัน; mai ching chan). There are two types of mallets used to play the instrument. Hard mallets produce a sharp and bright sound and are used for fast music. Soft mallets create a mellow and softer tone and are used for slower music.
In the Thai xylophone family, there are other similar instruments made from different materials. For example, some have metal bars (ranat ek lek, ranat thum lek) and others have glass bars (ranat kaeo). Another similar instrument is the ranat thum, which has wooden bars that are shaped differently. The ranat thum looks like the ranat ek but is lower and wider. It is often played alongside the ranat ek. The ranat ek is also similar to the Cambodian xylophone called "roneat ek" and the Burmese bamboo xylophone called "pattala."
History
The earliest known description of the ranat in Thailand, called ranat ek, was originally an instrument named krap. A pair of krap was used to keep rhythm in musical groups. Later, krap were arranged in a series. However, the sounds made when the bars were struck were not in tune. To fix this, makers created two rows of krap to support the instrument. As instrument makers gained experience, they made krap in different sizes and attached them together with a track to hold them. A heavy string was threaded through holes near the ends of the krap. The krap were placed close together on this string, and the whole "keyboard" was hung on a stand. Later, the keyboard was improved by using beeswax and small pieces of lead under each krap to enhance the sound. This instrument became known as "ranat," and the krap that make up the keyboard are called "luk ranat." The entire set of krap or keyboard is called "pern." At first, the keys of the ranat were made from two types of bamboo: Dendrocalamus Nees (Thai: ไผ่ตง; phai tong) and Indian Timber Bamboo (Bambusa tulda; Thai: ไผ่บง; phai bong). Later, different hardwoods were used, such as rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri; Thai: ไม้ชิงชัน; mai ching chan), Lakoochaand (Artocarpus lacucha; Thai: ไม้มะหาด; mai mahat), or Siamese Rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis; Thai: ไม้พะยูง; mai pa yung). Indian timber bamboo is often preferred because of its better sound. The support for the keyboard is shaped like a Thai riverboat, curving at both ends.
Early Thai musical groups used only one ranat, which had fewer keys than modern ranats. More keys were added over time until the instrument became too large for one stand. A second ranat with lower-sounding keys was created. This instrument was called ranat thum, while the original ranat with higher-sounding keys was called ranat ek.
Structure
The modern ranat ek model has 22 keys. The lowest note key is 38 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 1.5 cm thick. As the notes get higher, the keys get smaller but thicker. The highest note key is 30 cm long.
Tuning
Each octave is split into seven equal parts, which creates complicated musical ratios but makes it easier to change from one key to another. This is similar to how the Western 12-pitch equal temperament system has its own advantages and disadvantages.