RAMAYANA: THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION FROM TRADITIONAL LITERATURE TO POPULAR MUSIC

Abstract

The aim of this article is to study the transition from a royal literature to popular songs. The 11 songs related to the Ramayana publicized in 2016, from May to July, have been studied and categorized into 3 groups; 1) ones referred directly to the incidents related to the Ramayana; 2) ones conveying emotion as if being told by the characters of the story; and 3) ones referred to its characters in order to boost the song mood.  The results reveal that most of the songs have been written by referring to the incidents related to the Ramayana accurately. Informal language and modern idioms have been normally used while some old idioms and formal language have been found.  Thai traditional instruments and slurred sound have been used in some songs. These characteristics reflect the transition of the role of the Ramayana from the royal literature to popular songs, making it easier for people to access while being still known as the great literature.