Classically Thai

The number of Thai classical musical repertoires, compared to those of our Southeast Asian neighbours, is still small. In Thailand’s classical music circle, there are two types of music that encapsulate Thai identities or demonstrate nationalism: the first is original contemporary compositions based on traditional Thai music elements, while the second includes arrangements of traditional Thai songs which originally were composed by the late kings of Thailand and old masters from the past.

A recent project, Rattanakosin Classical Music Repertoire, which is supported by the Thailand Research Fund, aims at preserving traditional Thai music through the creation of repertoires. Forty different traditional Thai songs from the Rattanakosin era have been selected and arranged into original compositions and arrangements for five different groups of instruments, including symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind symphony, chamber music and piano, and Thai string ensemble. By using Western music composition techniques, 50 arrangements of traditional Thai songs and original compositions are the final outcome of this gigantic project.

The Rattanakosin Classical Music Repertoire has been led by a distinguished figure in the classical music scene, Prof Dr Natchar Pancharoen, who led the team including Prof Dr Narongrit Dhamabutra, Asst Prof Nora-ath Chanklum and Asst Prof Pimchanok Suwannathada. They worked intensely for one-and-a-half years to complete this project.

Prof Natchar Pancharoen stated that although each traditional Thai song carries different musical characters and styles — such as the melody, harmony and scale from Western classical music — there are challenges for each researcher to look for pleasant sounds while maintaining theoretical rules of traditional Thai and Western music. Like other disciplines, experiments in sound and other dimensions of music play an important part in this project.

Intense and meticulous recording sessions have yielded a box set of six CDs of five-hour length. Almost 200 top-notch musicians, including members of Chulalongkorn University Symphony Orchestra, Chulalongkorn University String Orchestra, Feroci Philharmonic Winds, Kor Pai Thai String Ensemble and other well-known musicians performed in these recordings. Moreover, all of the newly created works are published in standard notation, so that they can be used for future music studies and performances. An academic paper on each project has also been properly documented. All of these outcomes will be given as a gift of appreciation to every audience member who attends the closing project’s seminar.

Renowned Thai composer Narongrit Dhamabutra mentioned that it was his long-time dream of composing a symphony by using elements from traditional Thai music. With the use of Western

compositional techniques in his work

Symphony Of Rattanakosin, a four-movement symphonic work derives from four traditional Thai songs, Ratree Pradabdao, Bulan Loyluen, La-or-ong and Khaek Mon Bangkhunprom respectively.

Veteran musician Nora-ath Chanklum arranged 12 traditional Thai songs for string orchestra with different solo instruments while another 10 arrangements were made for wind symphony by Yos Vaneesorn, clarinet lecturer from Silpakorn University. After she first published arrangements of traditional Thai music for piano solo, Pimchanok Suwannathada created another set of 11 colourful arrangements for different small chamber groups in this project. Although trained in Western music, traditional Thai music has always played an important role for Natchar Pancharoen. Considered a prototype for her playing of traditional Thai music on piano from this era, she created another set of arrangements of traditional Thai music for piano.

This project will enormously affect music studies in Thailand in the future. It also preserves and promotes traditional Thai music at national and international level.

Five creative researchers will present their final works at the closing seminar of this project, Rattanakosin Classical Music Repertoire, on Friday at the Music Hall, Art and Culture Building, Chulalongkorn University, 9.30am-3pm. Admission is free. Snacks and lunch will be served. Register at 02-2184604, 086-544-9781 or email pon_ took@hotmail.com.