THE ROLES AND FUNCTION OF PIPHAT MUSIC IN THAI SOCIETY

Abstract

Piphat music plays a vital role in reflecting the arts, culture, and traditions of Thai society, deeply intertwined with the people's way of life, beliefs, and religious practices. As a cornerstone of ceremonial and theatrical events, it serves not only as musical expression but also as a living representation of Thailand’s cultural identity and spiritual heritage. Piphat music is not only a reflection of Thailand’s artistic and cultural legacy but also a profound embodiment of belief systems and spiritual practices rooted in Thai society. Traditionally performed in royal ceremonies, Buddhist rituals, and funerals, piphat music is deeply connected to the cycle of life and death, expressing reverence for the sacred and the divine. It reinforces the Thai people's respect for harmony, order, and merit-making, which are core elements of Buddhist philosophy. The symbolic use of instruments and melodies in rituals represents the connection between the earthly and the spiritual realms, making piphat an essential medium through which communal values and religious devotion are conveyed. This inseparable bond between music, belief, and culture emphasizes piphat’s enduring role in maintaining Thailand’s spiritual identity and transmitting cultural wisdom across generations. The purpose of this research was to study the piphat music legacy, roles and functions of piphat music in Thai society, and constructing a guidebook on piphat music for promotion. The research method was a qualitative and quantitative mixed research approach. Data was gathered by interviewing three key informants who are experts in piphat music at Bangkokthonburi University. Research tools included an interview form, guidebook, Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) form, and a questionnaire. The research findings were: (1) The piphat music legacy traced the historical evolution of piphat music, a traditional Thai ensemble rooted in ceremonial practices from the Ayutthaya to Bangkok periods. It was an adaptive resilience amid socio-cultural changes, with modern Thai educational institutions playing a critical role in preserving its sanctity through structured curricula. However, challenges persist in balancing improvisation with rigid ritual frameworks, necessitating innovative strategies to sustain its cultural authenticity in a globalized era. (2) Roles and functions of piphat music in Thai Society piphat music serves multifaceted roles, including ritualistic, religious as well as secular entertainment. Its rhythmic frameworks and melodic structures based the principle of Thai music as like as other ensembles such as the mahori, while regional variations reflect Thai’s cultural diversity. Ethnomusicological analyses highlight its dual identity as a historical archive and a living tradition, though external influences complicated in nationalist’s narrative. (3) The piphat music guidebook comprised of four-chapters in piphat music covering history, music traits, roles and functions, and music genres. IOC for guidebook shown average score for five rating scale was at 4.62. (4) Promotional of piphat music of Thailand by using the guidebook had done by conducting the conference on side and online mixes tai’an City, China in February 2025, attended by 231 participants. The participant’s satisfaction on the seminar revealed by questionnaire survey was at 4.58 on five level rating scale, the results demonstrated its potential for cross-cultural promotion, fostering global appreciation while reinforcing Thai cultural identity.