Doctoral Music Composition: ‘Festival of the Buddhist Barge Suite’ for Modern Jazz Orchestra

Abstract

Doctoral Music Composition: 'Festival of the Buddhist Barge Suite' for Modern Jazz is a programmatic suite inspired by the traditional Buddhist festival of pulling the Buddha's chariot in Songkhla Province. The piece reflects the Buddhist belief associated with the Buddha's return to Earth from Tavatimsa Heaven, where he had ascended to pay homage to his mother. Upon his return, Buddhist followers awaited his descent and ceremoniously invited him to grace the mortal world atop a ceremonial throne (Busabok), which gave rise to the annual tradition of pulling the Buddha's chariot. The composition aimed to capture the ambiance and aesthetic beauty of this ritual by integrating traditional Southern Thai music with Western jazz. It incorporated the elements, such as Nora music, string instruments, and jazz orchestration, to create a unique fusion within a modern jazz orchestra framework. The piece utilizes traditional Southern Thai rhythms and melodies, and the rhythmic patterns derived from the ceremonial boat drumming were woven into the musical textures. Additionally, the use of techniques adapted from the transcription of English notation enhanced the dimensionality and distinctiveness of the music. The suite was divided into eight distinct sections: 1) Naga King 2) Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma) 3) Tak Bat Devo (Alms Offering) 4) Moving of the Sacred Boat 5) The Three Heavenly Stairs (Silver Stairs, Golden Stairs, Crystal Stairs) 6) Sedia Gestatoria (Busabok/Ceremonial Throne) 7) Lord Buddha Opens the World, and 8) Bestowal of Blessings, with a total duration of 40 minutes.