Musical Identity in the Yao Ritual of the Tai-Kaleng Ethnic Group Kut Bak District Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

This research consists purposes were to study the musical identity of the Yao ritual of the Tai-Kaleng tribe in Kut Bak District, Sakon Nakhon Province. This qualitative research was conducted based on an ethnomusicological approach. The research tools consisted of a structured interview form, a semi-structured interview form, and a participant observation form. The target group consisted of 14 community leaders, cultural experts and ritual musicians in Ban Kut Had community, selected by purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed through content analysis and musicological analysis. The results revealed that the Yao ritual music of the Tai-Kaleng tribe has six musical identities as follows 1) Melody: uses A minor pentatonic scale with a sustained drone on note A and repetition of the main melodic phrase of 8-16 beats throughout the ritual 2) Rhythm: uses an ostinato pattern at 70-100 BPM with flexibility according to ritual context 3) Harmony: heterophonic in character with parallel intervals of Perfect 5th and Perfect 4th 4) Texture: heterophonic texture divided into three layers consisting of a foundation layer, melodic layer and rhythmic layer 5) Dynamics: primarily at mezzo-forte to forte level, varying according to ritual phases from mezzo-piano to fortissimo and 6) Form: continuous form structured as A-A-A-A..., divided into three sections: introduction, main section, and ending. These six identities function together as a cultural core that reflects the community's social structure and preserves ethnic identity amid social change.