{"id":1145,"date":"2021-07-02T12:17:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T05:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/?post_type=culture_heritage&p=1145"},"modified":"2021-09-06T11:30:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T04:30:46","slug":"thai-classical-orchestra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/thai-classical-orchestra\/","title":{"rendered":"Music for the Soul: Wong Piphat, the Thai Classical Orchestra"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Musicians of the Thai Music Group, Fine Arts Department [cr. FB: Thai Music Group<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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An independent country with a long history, Thailand possesses rich culture of language, cuisine, arts, and music, each of which is recognized as a national heritage. In this article, we explore Thai classical music, in particular the Piphat <\/em>(\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1e\u0e32\u0e17\u0e22\u0e4c) orchestra.<\/span><\/p>\n

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History reveals that most traditional Thai musical instruments originated during the Sukhothai era (1249-1438), the first kingdom of Siam (the former name of Thailand). Musical ensembles were conceived in the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767), the second kingdom of Siam (1782-present) and reached their peak between 1868 and 1925 during the reigns of Kings Rama IV and VI, a period considered the golden age of Thai classical music.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thai musical instruments are categorized into four main types based on the action of playing: Deed<\/em> (plucking), Si<\/em> (bowing), Tee <\/em>(striking), and Pao<\/em> (blowing).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Classical Thai music ensembles can be classified into three categories: Wong Piphat, Wong Khrueang Sai<\/em> (\u0e27\u0e07\u0e40\u0e04\u0e23\u0e37\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e22), and Wong Mahoree <\/em>(\u0e27\u0e07\u0e21\u0e42\u0e2b\u0e23\u0e35), with wong<\/em> meaning ensemble or band. \u00a0Each band plays all three kinds of musical instruments \u2013 wind, string, and percussion \u2013 but in different combinations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Percussion and wind instruments are the main constituents of\u00a0Wong Piphat<\/em> and include Ranad Ek<\/em> (\u0e23\u0e30\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01), alto bamboo xylophone; Ranad Thum<\/em> (\u0e23\u0e30\u0e19\u0e32\u0e14\u0e17\u0e38\u0e49\u0e21), bass bamboo xylophone; Khong Wong Yai<\/em> (\u0e06\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e27\u0e07\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e0d\u0e48), a set of gongs in a vertical circular frame; Khong Wong Lek<\/em> (\u0e06\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e27\u0e07\u0e40\u0e25\u0e47\u0e01), a set of gongs in a horizontal circular frame; Ta-pone<\/em> (\u0e15\u0e30\u0e42\u0e1e\u0e19), two-sided barrel drum laid horizontally on a wooden stand; and Klong Thad<\/em> (\u0e01\u0e25\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e17\u0e31\u0e14), large drum played with sticks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Wong Khrueang Sai<\/em> features string instruments, such as the zither, alto, and soprano fiddles as the main components along with a wind instrument like a flute.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Wong Mahoree<\/em>, meanwhile, is made up of all kinds of musical instruments \u2013 wind, string, and percussion \u2013 and can best be described as a combination of Wong Piphat<\/em> and Wong Khrueang Sai.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Piphat<\/em> orchestra is the most common of these three ensembles and is considered the icon of Thai classical music. It is called upon to perform on most occasions, such as ordinations, house blessings, and religious ceremonies, and also accompanies classical plays and shows like Khon <\/em>(\u0e42\u0e02\u0e19: classical masked dance), Likay<\/em> (\u0e25\u0e34\u0e40\u0e01: folk dance drama), and Nang Yai<\/em> (\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e31\u0e07\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e0d\u0e48: grand shadow puppet). The Piphat<\/em> orchestra is also part of all royal events.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Types of Wong Piphat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Piphat<\/em> orchestra is further divided into eight sub-categories:<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Wong Piphat Khrueang Ha<\/em> (\u0e27\u0e07\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1e\u0e32\u0e17\u0e22\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e04\u0e23\u0e37\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e32) \u2013 the principal band comprising the smallest number of instruments, namely Pi Nai<\/em> (\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e48\u0e43\u0e19) soprano oboe, Ranad Ek<\/em>, Khong Wong Yai<\/em>, Klong Thad, Ta-pone<\/em>, and Ching<\/em> (\u0e09\u0e34\u0e48\u0e07: small cymbals).<\/span><\/p>\n

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