Pathom Ai Lookmee's Nang Taloong Wai Khru Ceremony Music

Abstract

The purposes of this research are 1) to study the history and the cultural elements of Pathom Ai Lookmee’s Nang Taloong (Thai shadow puppetry) 2) to study the music for Wai Khru (paying respect to masters) ceremony of this crew. From the surveys, interviews and analysis, the results can be summed up into two points.

1. Nang Taloong is influenced by ancient civilizations from several countries. Religious beliefs also became a part of the performance. There is no absolute answer about the history of Nang Taloong, but the certain thing is that, in Wai Khru Ceremony, people who will perform the show adhere to the masters they admire with flowers, incenses, candles and Mak Plu (Thai wrapped betel nut) in hands in order to pay respect. The masters test them by making them sing. The ceremony is a crucial tradition of Nang Taloong. People believe it will grant them blessings: they can earn a living efficiently and the audience will favor them. Once, a performance called “Manorah” was almost disappeared because of the new source of entertainment such as televisions and videos. Traditional artists had been forgotten for 5-6 years. However, Pathom Ai Lookmee Team brought the light back to Nang Taloong. The musical instruments used in the ceremony include a Mong (double-gong), Ching (finger cymbals), Glong Thap (goblet drum), Pi Nok (a quadrople), tambourine, drums, keyboard, two electric guitars, and a base.

2. According to the study, there are three instrumental songs in the ceremony. The melody of the songs is led by the sound of Pi Nok and other instruments take the roles of rhyme and rhythm. The songs are played over and over again.