The Doctoral Music Composition: Isan Symphonic Variations for Chorus and Orchestra

Abstract

The composition Isan Symphonic Variations for Chorus and Orchestra is a musical composition inspired by Isan Folk music tunes.The composer has created the well crafted melodic variations and cultural sound character of the piece based on the Klon Lum Tang Isan Keaw (Green Isan's short poems) Meanwhile, the poetic lyric has been motivatedly recreated to bring the abundant of Northeastern Thailand region's sentiment back to life. Moreover, the sound of Xylophone (Ponglang), the instruments of the orchestra and the chorus were blended in order to present Isan folk music's character via the Western musical idiom. The 3 movement of this composition is divided as following: Movement I (Allegro), the introduction has been represented the uniqueness in Isan folk music's liveliness by expressing it through the sound of chorus and orchestra. The composer also added the melodious sound flavor by utizing the variety of the muting sound style on trumpets and horns. Movement II (Moderato), the aspect of the heterophonic approach music has been implied to the main idea of the entire movement whereby its formatted transformation through worked effectively through chorus and the orchestra. Movement III (Allegretto) The harmonic chromaticism was modified and applied as the symbolic icon of the entire movement. The transparence of Isan cultural sound was perfectly designed to be the highlight of this spectacular episode.