The Essence of Phin: Conceptual Framework for the Thai Music Composition of “Phin-Dukkhanirodhagaminipatipada”

สารัตถะพิณ: แนวทางสู่การสร้างสรรค์เพลงตับ "พิณทุกขนิโรธคามินีปฏิปทา"

Authors

  • Waraporn cherdchoo Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University.
  • kumkom pornprasit Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University

Keywords:

phin, vina, music creation, Dukkhanirodhagaminipatipada, Thai music composition, Buddhist music

Abstract

This article is part of a doctoral thesis on the creation of the Thai music composition of “Phin-Dukkhanirodhagaminipatipada”, which aims to study phin music from the religious perspectives from various types of evidence, ranging from ancient documents in the Thai and Indian civilizations to the Tripitikata Buddhist scripture. The research findings are divided into three parts. First, it reveals two types of phin: 1) a lute falling into two different types: namely the long-necked plucked lutes, similar in shape to the krachappi, and the short-necked plucked lute such as a phin ha sai (a phin with 5 strings), 2) a resonated bow including the phin nam tao and the phin pia. Secondly, the findings with respect to organology from a study of Indian lutes (the bin and vina) reveal five different types of those instruments: (1) resonated bow, (2) bowed harp, (3) stick zither, (4) plucked lute, and (5) gatra vina (the word vina here refers to singing), while there are two types of phin instruments found in Thai culture: resonated bow and long-necked plucked lute with flat-backed sound box. Thirdly, a phin mentioned in the Tripitaka Buddhist scripture shows that: (1) in terms of meaning, a phin is conveys implications of Buddhist teachings. The strings and its sonority are used as metaphors for perseverance, industriousness, honesty, determination, sacrifice and obsession. A phin also implies the status of an individual, such as a person of great merits and charismatic authority, a person of great importance and custom of excellence; (2) In terms of its physical characteristics: harp, lute, and bow types of phin found, which correspond to the Post-Vedic musical instruments; and (3) In terms of roles and functions, a phin can be both melodic and drone instruments accompanying singing. These findings provide a conceptual framework for the creation of a Thai music composition, which the musical traits appearing in the Buddhist Tripitaka and in connection with the Indian music that existed at the onset of Buddhism are utilized.

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Published

2018-11-12

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Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)