Karen Musical Culture: Role in the Development of Community Potentials

Abstract

Musical culture has been considered to be one of the elements of life that is important for mental development and refinement. It has appeared in different social activities and the way of life in every society through the transmission of sentiment with music and lyrics allowing audiences to understand and feel the emotions deeply. This has been the important foundation for human potential development in aspects of society, economy, and culture. Karen musical culture has an important role in mental development and refinement of people in the Karen community through music in Karen musical performance in various ceremonies telling Karen's way of life, moral, value, attitude, legend, and historical stories of the community. Thus, Karen musical culture has influenced the development of community potential not only in the social dimension but also the economic dimension, such as conceptual and emotional development. It also has an influence on the development of community potential in the cultural dimension appearing in the local cultural preservation, for example, performing Karen music in the Karen's Wrapped Rice Feast in Ratchaburi, allowing Karen music to play a role in energizing and boosting the morale of people in the community, and strengthening the community. Also, it is the significant opportunity for people in the community to learn and participate in the continuation of tradition, which has developed the potential of people in the community on the basis of local cultural wisdom to preserve and promote Karen musical culture leading to sustainable social development in the future.