Music in Persian and Thai courts in the early Ayutthaya period
From the 13th century onwards, Persians established stable trade relations with the kingdoms of Sukhotai and subsequently Ayutthaya. They also settled in Siam and occupied official positions at court. The Thai royal family adopted elements of Persian culture, for instance in their style of dress. Since music was very important both at the Persian and Thai court, songs and musical instruments were exchanged and adapted to the local culture. The blending of traditional and foreign instruments led to the creation of new instruments in Thailand. Mural paintings showing detailed depictions of musicians provide valuable evidence of the evolution of Thai music, and they reveal similarities between Islamic and Thai instruments.
