The Native Lanna Likay: Sor Sankhayom 2 group, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

            The native Lanna Likay occurred when Princess Dara Rasami, the royal consort of Siam, returned to Chiang Mai permanently in 1914. The following year, she received Kru Rod and Kru Chat Aksorn Thap, Thai music and dramatic teacher to teach Thai classical music, drama, pantomime, including Likay for northern lords and courtiers in Khum Tha Chedi Kiew (Khum Rim Ping). Likay was initially performed inside the royal palace, Khum Tha Chedi Kiew and the Inthakhin pillar worship at Wat Chedi Luang only once a year. Later, Mr. Boonmee Panyayot, one of the Likay actors in the Chedi Kiew, inherited it for his friends and disciples to join performing in the annual ceremony of putting flower to worship Inthakhin pillars every year. However, almost all friends and disciples did not bring Likay performances as their career. It was just a temporary performance at the city ceremony. Only Mr. Thongsuk Chumphusri who took Likay as his career because he used to play Likay with the Likay Sor Prasertsilp group and had set up Sor San Kayom 2 group since then.

          During the period after World War II, the atmosphere of Likay’s popularity in Chiang Mai and Lamphun was bustling. In addition, at that time, the railway line had arrived in Chiang Mai for many years. The journey is, therefore, convenient especially for transporting luggages. Therefore, during that time, Thai Likay groups from Sukhothai and other provinces in the central region had travel to set up a Likay stage in Chiang Mai and Lamphun periodically. Many Likay actors and musicians who have settled in Chiang Mai and Lamphun had become Likay teachers including playing xylophone for local Likay performances. Until the folk people could establish more than 20 indigenous Lanna Likay group during the 1947-1957.

As for the Sor San Kayom 2 group, it was established in 1955 as a successor to the Sor Prasertsilp group which was established in 1947, the founder of the Sor Prasertsilp was Mr. Noi Saen Taeja, Ban San Kayom, who studied Likay with Mr. Moi, Mr. Noi Mong and Mr. Ma, a native Lanna Likay actors at Ban San Pa Thong. Later, Mr. Thongsuk Chomphusri entrusted himself to be a disciple and performed Likay with Mr. Noi Saen Taeja. When the Sor Prasertsilp group disbanded, the Thongsuk Chomphusri’s group then revived and re-established as the Sor Sankhayom 2 group, continuing to the present day. The development of the Sor San Kayom 2 was divided into 2 periods that were: the first periods, the group was administered by Mr. Thongsuk Chomphusri, most of them still inherited the traditional Lanna style. There were some new forms added in the performance, such as blessing dance, floor dance, folk music and Likaysert. The second period, the group was administered by Mr. Niwet Chomphusri, with many adjustments made to increase efficiency and appealing to modern audiences including light, sound, musical instruments and costumes. The group had its own stage and a truck to transport performance equipment that can be employed both in the northern areas and all over the country.