Doctoral Music Composition: “The Winds–The Whispers–The Whisperers” for Chamber Ensemble

Abstract

The doctoral music composition focuses on the cross cultural aspects of the music of the hill tribes, Hmong, Black Lahu and Red Lahu found in the Pang Mapha district of the Mae Hong Son province in Thailand. The work combines the re-interpretation of idiomatic materials as well as the transmission of cultural knowledge through educational performances.The research is expressed through three musical compositions entitled: 1) ‘The Winds’ for Viola Solo. An experimental piece exploring the idea of indeterminacy. 2) ‘The Whispers’ for viola, clarinet and piano. 3) ‘The Whisperers’ for string quartet. Based on the idea of rhapsodic variations and motivic developments. The results reveal that these last two inter-connected compositions approach various aspects of the culture and music of the hill tribes from a novel and contemporary perspective. Secondly, it can be maintain the essence of the original tune.