1. AN OVERVIEW OF THAI MUSIC
ANANT NARKKONG
The College of Music,
Silpakorn University

2. Socio-cultural contacts throughout
Siamese history
have been evidenced in language
(speaking and writing), architecture,
visual arts, archaeological sites, folklores,
and of course,
MUSIC.

3. the country's political and economic centre, and also the influences
The music found among 4 main regions of the country; Central, North, Northeast, and South, are unique in their characteristics and traditions.
The strongest one is the music of the Central region since it represents
the country's political and economic centre, and also the influences
from mass media which make the Central region music
the mainstream and continuously spreading into
other regions.
Of all regional/folk music
in Thailand,
the music
of the Central region has become the mainstream.

4. of responsibility from the royal palaces to the government,
The music of the Central region has been supported and refined
by the royal court, or by those with economical and educational authority. It was transmitted from generation to generation and gradually became noble, formal, traditional, and
has ultimately become national.
transfer
of responsibility from the royal palaces to the government,
after 1932.

5. The ROLES of Thai traditional music as found in the central region:
Accompanying rituals (religious ceremonies such as required in a wedding or funeral ceremonies / the rite of paying homage to teachers, etc.)
Accompanying traditional performance (traditional dance drama, musical folk drama, Thai boxing, etc.)
Providing pleasure for recreational purposes

6. The roles of Thai traditional music as found in the central region:
Accompanying rituals (religious ceremonies such as required in a wedding or funeral ceremonies / the rite of paying homage to teachers, etc.)
Accompanying traditional performance (traditional dance drama, musical folk drama, Thai dances, Thai boxing, etc.)
Providing pleasure for recreational purposes

7. The roles of Thai traditional music as found in the central region:
Accompanying rituals (religious ceremonies such as required in a wedding or funeral ceremonies / the rite of paying homage to teachers, etc.)
Accompanying traditional performance (traditional dance drama, musical folk drama, Thai dances, Thai boxing, etc.)
Providing pleasure for recreational purposes

8. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
AND ENSEMBLES

9. Western classification:
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Classification of Thai musical instruments
- according to the manner of playing :
the diid "plucked“
2) the sii "bowed“
3) the tee "beaten", and
4) the pao "blown".
- according to their function :
providing the melody
providing the rhythm
Western classification:
Chordophone.
Aerophone.
Idiophone.
Membranophone.

10. เครื่องสาย The Krueng-sai
MUSICAL
ENSEMBLES:
3 types of standard ensembles
ปี่พาทย์ The Pi phat
(the percussion and wind ensemble)
เครื่องสาย The Krueng-sai
(the string ensemble)
มโหรี The Ma-ho-ri
(the mix ensemble).

11. MUSICAL ENSEMBLES
They are performed for different purposes, e.g.
the Pi ghat ensemble is used to accompany Wai kru (Music & Drama worship ceremony) or stage performances such as the Khon (a masked play).
The Krueng-sai ensemble and the Ma­ho-ri ensemble are used for general entertainments.

12. GENERAL ELEMENTS
OF THAI MUSIC
Sieng - Sonic Orders
Thamnong - Melody
Changwa - Rhythm
Phleng - song/a piece of music composition

13. for your proper understanding and appreciation of Thai music!!
Please attend the soft lecture & demonstration on Thai music this evening
for your proper understanding and appreciation of Thai music!!