“THE RIVERS OF LIFE” FOR ORCHESTRA

Abstract

          “The Rivers of Life” for Orchestra is a program music inspired by the way of life of people along the rivers with their own unique culture, especially the musical culture that relates to the ethnic groups that lived in that area. The important rivers of the four regions of Thailand connect the culture, traditions, and important identities of each region together. The piece is divided into four movements that span of 23 minutes. The name of each movement derives from the name of the river that runs through each region of Thailand. Namely, Tapee River, Mun River, Ping River, and Chao Phraya River are used as a link in presenting river basin folk music. A touch of their lives is presented through a combination of orchestral setting and folk instruments from each region. This piece utilizes contemporary music composition techniques to enhance traditional Thai melodies. For example, thematic transformation, mode system, variation, and other techniques. These techniques give the composition a more varied ambiance and color while completely preserving the essence of folk music.