Mutto Taek: Improvisational Indigenous Knowledge in Traditional Phleng Khorat

Abstract

Phleng Khorat, a form of Thai Khorat folk song, is an important genre of dialogue song which requires musical ability, knowledge, skill, as well as ‘Mutto Taek’—a specific kind of insight in improvisation—of its male and female performers. ‘Mutto Taek’, not only encapsulates the aesthetics of Phleng Khorat and Thai Khorat culture, but also represents the highest levels of musical achievement, resulting in self-actualization, ‘flow’ in performance, and audience recognition. The objective of this study is to observe ‘ Mutto Taek’ of professional performers focusing on traditional performance studied through theoretical framework of ethnomusicology in Nakhon Ratchasima province.