Master Music Composition: “Lopburi River” for Orchestra

Abstract

            This Master of Music Composition thesis “Lopburi River” a piece of program music that employs the use of quotation and motivic development throughout. The piece is scored for full orchestra and is approximately eleven minutes in length. The piece aims to illustrate the journey of a small stream that splits off from the larger Chao Praya River, and its formation into the Lopburi River. Musical themes have been selected from two traditional Thai songs: “Ra Bam Lopburi”, which represents the Lopburi River, and “Kam Fah”, which represents the tradition of the Thai Phuan people of Singburi Province. Melodic themes from these two references are further developed by using contemporary techniques such as mode mixture, transformation, and the use of quartal chords. The combination of contemporary techniques and traditional melodies will create several changes in melodic and harmonic color throughout the piece.