Music in Paya Yom Procession Tradition in Bang Pra Sub-district, Sri Racha District, Chonburi Province

Abstract

This is a qualitative research, the study aimed to investigate Music used in Paya Yom procession tradition in Bang Pra Sub-district, Sri Racha District, Chonburi in 2017. Two kinds of music were found, firstly, the music used in the Paya Yom procession were Klong Yao or the long tail drum ensemble. There were 3 troupes of Klong Yao who were willing to join the festival without any payment consisted of Sakorn Meesub troupe; Somkuarn Boonrod troupe; and BangPra Kindergarten school troupe. The Klong Yao playing pattern of Somkuarn Boonrod troupe used melodic instruments: Ranat Ek and Saw Duang to play the pieces such as Chine Tok Mai; Pama Tungle; Pama Rum Kwan etc. Secondly the music used in the Paya Yom warship ritual led by Brahman Patiharn Sayompop who came from Devasthan Brahman shrine, Bangkok. The ensemble called Prakom ensemble consisted of Kwang Chai; Sung; and Bundor. The warship ritual was divided into eleven stages, the music was played in five stages of the ritual: inviting the angels; blessing the participants; offering oblation; blessing, and spreading the flower. According to the five times playing of Prakom music, Kwang Chai was played for three times slowly, at the first play of Kwang Chai, Sung and Bundor played together continuously and stop by the last play of Kwang Chai, the last stage of music playing was the longest. There are ritual songs involved: Satukarn; Proy Kaotok; and Tra Choen, especially Tra Choen used to accompany the ritual in the past.