A Study of Music Culture of Mahori-phuen-ban Band in the Lower Northeast of Thailand: A Cast Study of Mahori-phuen-ban Band in Sadao Village, Phlapphlachai Sub-district, Buriram Province

Abstract

The purposes of this qualitative research were to 1) study background, compositions, and musical culture of the Mahori-phuen-ban in the lower northeast of Thailand, 2) to analyze folk song composition in this region, and 3) to investigate the musical dynamics of this band. The fieldwork was carried out at Sadao village, Sadao sub-district, Phlapphlachai distrrict, Buriram province.  The population and sample consisted of 10 community artists using the in-depth interviews and group discussions. The data obtained were analyzed by using a descriptive method. The research results revealed that:

1. The compositions and music culture of the Mahori-phuen-ban in the lower northeast of Thailand were the keys part to make the music culture perfect, forming a music band in order to inherited local wisdom of local artists. The musical instruments with a complete arrangement of the styles of the lower northeast’s Mahori-phuen-ban are as follows: Pi-sa-lai, So-duang, So-klang, So-u, Kra-pue, Chap-poei, Klong-yai, Klong-kantruem, Ching, Chap-lek, and Krap.

The instrumental music and songs have ben orally inherited, both instrumental with cultural beliefs that before every performance, a ceremony to worship teachers with traditional sacrifices would be carried out, and the band would perform rituals and important traditional activities of the community.

1. The songs were short with their clear structures. These songs also reflected local music uniqueness. A pentatonic sound system with clear song paragraphs and song sentences was used. Moreover, the introduced part of songs were sung with with the lead, and completely faded down.

3. The dynamics in music culture have been taken place in many dimensions, namely, individualism, musicians’ inheritance patterns, band gathering, and playing various songs for general events, ritual ceremonies, and performances.