Playing techniques of local fiddle in koratMahoriensemble : a case study of the phanomporn ensemble.

Abstract

This objectives of this research aimed at studying 1) the general information about PhanonphonMahori Korat ensemble in Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province and 2) the method of saw playing in PhanonphonMahori Korat Ensemble in Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province by using musicology methodology to collect data from field study to verify and analyze by using qualitative research methodology.

          The results indicated that 1) Phanomphon KoratMahori Ensemble was established in 1992 by Mr. PhanomJamlongklang. The ensemble was a traditional Korat MahoriEnsemble  and originally named “PhanomphonMahori Korat Ensemble ”. The ensemble first had 6 members, but when the stream of western music culture had influenced Thai society, the work opportunities given to the ensemble started to decrease. In 1997, the ensemble was reformed from traditional Korat ensemble into a folk music ensemble with singing and dancing together with adding some western music instruments namely, the base, keyboard, drum set, and Conga into the ensemble. However, So-klang (middle sized saw) was kept as main and the only traditional instrument to play with other western instruments. The ensemble, then, changed its name into “Phanomphon Ensemble Chang Ou - Applied Mahori Korat Ensemble”. At the moment, there are three saw players and five other instrument players. The ensemble plays various traditional Mahori songs as well as contemporary songs which includes 26 songs where the main songs are Patcha, and Loluean used as the main songs in teacher worshipping ceremony. The ensemble  plays in particular three types of ceremonies which are ordination ceremony, rope offering ceremony, and spirits food offering ceremony. 2) There are three methods of saw playing of PhanonphonMahori Korat ensemble , by Mr. PhanomJamlongklang, which are mordent, vibrato and note position changing method. Whereas Mr. PreechaMuenwai includes has three methods of playing saw which are mordent, trill, and vobrato while Mr. ChaloMaikoksung has four methods including mordent, vibrato, note position changing method, and left hand pizzicato.