The Songs for Nang Dong and Nang Kwak Plays: A Case Study of the Thai Laokrang Community at Ban Khok Mo, Khok Mo Sub-District, Thap Than District in Uthai Thani Province

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the general background and social context of the Laokrang community in Kok Mo village, Kok Mo sub-district, Thap Than district, Uthai Thani Province. 2) study the essence and other elements of the Nang Dong and Nang Kwak plays. 3) analyze the songs of the Nang Dong and Nang Kwak Plays in musical aspects. The results concluded that 1) the Laokrang people migrated and settled down in Thailand since the period of King Rama III. They were farmers in the past but have a variety of professions today. They believe in Buddhism, but also strongly believe in superstition and spirits. 2) The Nang Dong and Nang Kwak plays, a belief in ancestral spirits, consists of 4-5 players. The styles and equipment of the plays are similar but have a different in those puppets.   3) the Nang Dong and Nang Kwak songs, an accompaniment by hand clapping, have a different in lyric and meaning, but are similar in many musical aspects such as form, rhythm pattern, dynamic and melody. The Nang Dong song consists of 3 pitches: Eb4, F4 and G4 while the Nang Kwak song has slightly different pitches: F4, G4 and A4.

Suggestions for future research can be to study or compare the other musical cultures in the same approaches or methods. In addition to being a complete knowledge of the Nang Dong and Nang Kwak plays, the new concrete knowledge in music can be as tools for local cultural promotion as well as preservation or to develop by producing video material for dissemination or organizing an ethnographic and music cultural learning center as well as a cultural tourist attraction.