Form and Characteristics of Accompanying Music for the Ramakian Epic in the Episode of Niw Phet (the Diamond Finger) Leading to the Creation of Contemporary Thai Music

Abstract

The purposes of this research paper are to 1) study the form and characteristics of the accompanying music for the Ramakian epic in the episode of Niw Phet (the diamond finger) (1958) and 2) create the contemporary Thai music accompanying the performance episode mentioned. The data were collected from documents, textbooks, literature, and related research and interviews with the 11 experts from three areas with the following research tools: 1) recording form of the form and characteristics of music, 2) interview form based on the concepts of creating contemporary Thai music.

The research results show that 1) the ancient Thai songs created to accompany the Ramakian epic in the episode of Niw Phet (the diamond finger) (1958) consists of 19 songs and can be classified into two groups, including (1) general song that can be divided into two subgroups: the pieces without specific dance posture and the pieces with specific dance posture and (2) the group is naphat pieces which can be divided into two subgroups: the general naphat pieces without specific dance posture and high level of the naphat piece without specific dance posture. 2) the contemporary Thai Music created comprises seven pieces: (1) Ton Reaung Phraya Marn, (2) Reang-saran Thep-pa-butr Thep-thi-da, (3) Asura Kan Thep-deva, (4) Mahathep Prasart Bhorn, (5) Puang Amorn Chup Rabum Num Phai, (6) Thep Thai Ma Pharp Marn, and (7) Phlan Asura Duay Na-ri.