The Phenomenon of the Ceremonious Emsemble in the Ceremony of the Changing of the Emerald Buddha’s Seasonal Attires.

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the role and the phenomenon of the ceremonious Piphat emsemble in the royal ceremony of changing of the Emerald Buddha’s seasonal attires. The research methodology was quantitative research.

The results of the study were that the role of the ceremonious Piphat emsemble in the royal ceremony of changing of the Emerald Buddha’s seasonal attires was playing for the completeness of the royal ceremony. The pattern of playing the music was the traditional pattern. The government officials from Office of Music and Drama, the Fine Arts Department were the music players who played by the royal command from Office of the Secretary General. They had to practice for the accuracy before the ceremony. They dressed in white dress uniform with sash and decoration. The ensemble was called Wong Piphatphithi or ceremonious Piphat emsemble. The songs for the royal ceremony were Phleng Sathukan, Phleng Longsong and PhlengRuangThamkwan. The patterns of these songs demonstrated the manners of ritual. First, Phleng Sathukan was played while taking off the Emerald Buddha’s seasonal attires. Then Phleng Longsong was

played while pouring the water onto the Emerald Buddha. Finally, Phleng RuangThamkwan was played while passing the lighted candles clockwise to cerebrate the Emerald Buddha. However, the patterns of playing the music for this royal ceremony were ceremonious, orderly. The way of playing was smooth, not too slow or too fast.