Abstract:
Boat song chanted in the Royal Barge Procession is designed to facilitate the precision of the oarsmens rowing strokes and releasing of each stroke. Prince Damronrajanubhab proposes that the origin of the Royal Barge Procession is derived from the Indian culture when the Great King of Bharanasi travels across the Gages River. At present, two versions of the boat song are extant: the Royal Navy, and the Department of Arts version. The former was originated during the reign of King Rama, with Luang Klomkosolsap (Jon Soontornkes) as a model cantor. Todays successor of the cantor is Rear Admiral Mongkol Saengsawang, who was awarded the 2000 National Artist in Performing Arts (Thai Music); and Lieutenant Commander Natthawat Aramklier, Head of Royal Processional Vessels Division, Royal Thai Navy. As for the vision passed on by the Department of Arts, the model cantor was Luang Seangsanorkan (Pan Mooktawapai). Master Somchai Tabporn is now taking on the transmission of this version. There are two types of music employed in the Royal Barge Procession. The first type is used to give signals to the procession. The forces used to comprise grap phuang, sao, and trae farang. The second is the processional music, comprising two ensembles: Wong-kreang-pra-kom-trae-sang-ma-ho-ra-teuk and four Wong-klong-kak-pee-cha-wa ensembles-two from Division of Music, and two from the Bureau of the Royal Household. The analysis shows that the melody of both versions of processional song differs slightly. The Royal Thai Navy version is more robust in character, very accurate in pronunciation, and with the rhythm coincides with the oarsmen strokes; whereas the Division of Arts version is more lyrical emphasizing on pronunciation and the intonation of the language. Specific singing techniques prescribed by the Thai Musical arts are strictly employed while rhythmic patterns are remained to be precisely structured and succinct.