MAKING PROCESS OF RANAD EK BY KRU CHALOW JAICHAN

Abstract

         The purposes of this research, “The Making Process of the Ranad Ek by Kru Chalow Jaichan”, are as follows: (1) To study the history of the creation of Kru Chalow Jaichan’s ranad ek, (2) To study the making methods of Kru Chalow Jaichan’s ranad ek. Due to the advanced development of materials and tools nowadays, traditional Thai musical instrument makers can produce musical instruments more quickly, but at the expense of exquisiteness. However, Kru Chalow Jaichan, a traditional Thai musical instrument maker, still adheres to the ancient traditional Thai musical instruments making methods of Jek Hui and Jek Fon, two popular musical instrument makers in an ancient era. The research found that in Kru Chalow Jaichan’s ranad ek making methods, the ancient tools and the application of tools are used in the making process of ranad ek wooden slats, for instance, pieces of glass are used to decorate wooden slats. Kru Chalow also utilizes the ancient method in which tenons are being made to attach wooden parts of boat-shaped resonator together. Kru Chalow’s ranad ek is in an ancient style which consists of 21 wooden slats and its pedestal is carved unlike those of modern time. Moreover, he has even developed his own unique pattern of the ranad ek. All these methods have a significant impact on the sound quality of the ranad ek in the way that they make the sound quality resonant, complete, and exquisite.