Friday, December 7, 2007

NUS Thai Music Ensemble

Designed by Muhammad Mustakim


In 2004, at the proposal of Dr Jan Mrázek and Dr Titima Suthiwan, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn gifted to the Faculty a large set of classical Thai musical instruments, to be used in teaching Thai music at the Southeast Asian Studies Programme. Dr. Mrazek has been studying Thai music since 2004 and has incorporated into SEASP modules on Southeast Asian art (SE2221, SE2214). Moreover, we have been working with the Department of Thai Classical Music, The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and invited their faculty to conduct several intensive workshops. From August to December 2005, Professor Pichit Chaissaree, a well-known performer and scholar of Thai music, was teaching Thai music at NUS (SE3210).


Learning to play and appreciate Thai music is a valuable and enjoyable experience. A group of Thai music enthusiasts, the NUS Thai Music Ensemble, lead by Dr. Mrázek, meets weekly to practice Thai music. Our first performance was at the Southeast Asia Studies Night 2006, where we played a suite accompanying the dance Mae Bot.


Currently, Ms Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak (Koong) from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London is our Teacher in Residence. Having to teach in NUS, she has accomplished a lot for the group. Because of her, we have managed to perform in many glitz and glamorous performances.

Some of the performances we had since January 2007:

  • NAFA Ethnomusic Concert Series, February 2007
  • Asian Civilization Museum Red Festival, March 2007
  • Tampines, NE Dance Festival, June 2007


NUS Southeast Asian Music and Dance, March 2007 organized by the Southeast Asian Studies Programme with the support of the Royal Thai Embassy. “An Evening of Southeast Asian Music and Dance” featured traditional music and dance from different parts of Indonesia and Thailand. Performed by the NUS Thai Music Ensemble (directed by Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak, a Visiting Fellow at SEASP), the NUS Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble (directed by Dr. Jan Mrázek, SEASP) and the Singa Lagena Sundanese music group (directed by Tatang Sofyan), this event explored the interaction between Southeast Asian musical cultures, such as a classical Thai song called “Yawa Kao” means “Old Java”, an adaptation of a Javanese melody, a Javanese composition called “Siam” based on the Royal Thai Anthem, Thai compositions in Burmese, Mon, and Javanese musical dialects, and a dance representing a Thai hero disguised as a Mon. Thai snacks and drinks were also kindly provided by the Royal Thai Embassy at this event which attracted more than 500 people.

Students from the module SE 3210 performed Thai long drums and dance.


Our most biggest accomplishment, in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, the NUS Thai Music Ensemble put up a performance at a special concert organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy on 23 April 2007 at the University Cultural Centre.

Directed by Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak, a Visiting Fellow at the Southeast Asian Studies Programme (SEASP), the ensemble performed songs composed by the princess and a suite of intercultural songs which was adapted to the tunes of Thai music, including the well-known song Rasa Sayang. Her Royal Highness also joined the ensemble on stage, playing the so duang (a two string violin-like Thai instrument). The Indonesian dancer Nunuk Sri Rahayu-Mrazkova, who often performs with SEASP's ensembles, performed a Thai dance inspired by Chinese dance, as s symbol of Thai-Singaporean friendship. Professor Brenda Yeoh gave a speech at the event, thanking Her Royal Highness and the Royal Thai Embassy for their support of Thai music at NUS, and SEASP's flower girl, Ms.Helena Mrazkova, presented a bouquet of flowers to Her Royal Highness on behalf of the SEASP. The event was covered by Major Singapore and Thailand news networks.


Not only performing for the university, our NUS Thai Music Ensemble also performs for the Thai Community around Singapore; such as the Thai New Year in April abd the Phaa Paa Festival in July at the Thai Temple “Wat Uttanayanmuni”, Chua Chu Kang, and the Thai Festivals around Singapore organize by the Royal Thai Embassy.





Recently in September 2007, The SEA Studies Programme, NUS, in collaboration with The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore organized a three-week Thai Music and Dance Workshop, with the guest teacher Koong Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak. There were 23 participants, including NUS students, staff, members of the Thai community in Singapore, students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), and others. Some of the participants had previously studied Thai music and are members of NUS Thai Music Ensemble, while others were beginners. On the last day of the workshop, the SEASP organised a farewell reception for the Thai Ambassador in Singapore, Mr Chalermpol Thanchitt, who will be leaving Singapore this year , and who has greatly contributed to the development of Thai music teaching at NUS. His Excellency attended the event together with his wife as well as a number of Embassy staff.





We are currently now involved in many projects, together with the support of The Royal Thai Embassy who have help us in many ways. For more information about NUS Thai Music Ensemble, please contact

Southeast Asian Studies Programme: Tel 6516 6338
or
Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak: paphutsornwong@hotmail.com

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Aftermath, Thai Ambassador Party.

Performing Lao Dueng Duen.


Klui and singing contingent.

Ranaat Eek Solo by Dr Jan.

Group photo of NUS Thai Music Ensemble with The Ambassador and wife, with our resident guest teacher, Koong.



The event was a success. The music was good (even though it was a short performance), the food was nice and good. And everyone had tons of fun!

The photos were taken and Aki. If you want the photos, please write to : musxtakim@yahoo.com

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Farewell Party for the Thai Ambassador

NUS Thai Music Ensemble, with The Ambassador, in the early days.

Thai Ambassador, Mr Chalermpol Thanchitt

21st September 2007, Friday,
7.00pm till late
Faculty of Arts and Social Science
AS3, #03-01
National University of Singapore


Featuring the NUS Thai Music Ensemble, with Guest Teacher, Koong Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak.

Join us in a fun yet sombre farewell party for our beloved Thai Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Chalermpol Thanchitt, as he will be posting out from Singapore to Bangladesh. There will be lots of music, food and drinks and good memories.



For more details, please email to musxtakim@yahoo.com or phutsorn@yahoo.com

Monday, July 30, 2007

Thai Festival at Chua Chu Kang Thai Temple.

Sunday, 29th July 2007.


We played again in the Thai Temple (Wat Uttamayanmuni) in Chua Chu Kang for a festival (Phaa Paa Festival). As usual, the food was just wonderful and we played good drumming procession music. The whole neighbourhood came out to watch us and just before we have to perform, the rain finally stop! It was a fun affair. For more photos, please email to musxtakim@yahoo.com



Friday, June 29, 2007

Thai Festival



NUS Thai Music Ensemble is now performing in the Thai Festival which is now currently held in the Thai Embassy Ground.

Date: 27 June to 1 July 2007
Time : 6.30pm

Place: The Royal Thai Embassy.


Free Entrance. Enjoy the Thai festival with NUS Thai Music Ensemble and enjoy the Thai Fair in the Thai Embassy ground. There are stalls selling Thai Food, ornaments, clothes and many more at a very affordable price.
NUS Thai Music Ensemble. Managed by The Southeast Asian Studies Programme.
And supported by The Royal Thai Embassy.

NUS Thai Music Ensemble Welcomes You!

Welcome to NUS Thai Music Ensemble.

In 2004, at the proposal of Dr Jan Mrázek and Dr Titima Suthiwan, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn gifted to the Faculty a large set of classical Thai musical instruments, to be used in teaching Thai music at the Southeast Asian Studies Programme. Dr. Mrazek has been studying Thai music since 2004 and has incorporated into SEASP modules on Southeast Asian art (SE2221, SE2214). Moreover, we have been working with Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and invited their faculty to conduct several intensive workshops. From August to December 2005, Professor Pichit Chaissaree, a well-known performer and scholar of Thai music, was teaching Thai music at NUS (SE3210). We are planning to invite teachers from Thailand again in near future. Learning to play and appreciate Thai music is a valuable and enjoyable experience for students of Southeast Asian arts and culture.

A group of Thai music enthusiasts (mostly SEASP students), the NUS Thai Music Ensemble, lead by Dr. Mrázek, meets weekly to practice Thai music. Our first performance was at the Southeast Asia Studies Night 2006, where we played a suite accompanying the dance Mae Bot.

Currently, Ms Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak (Koong) from SOAS is our Teacher in Residence. Having to teach in NUS for 1 semester, she has accomplished a lot for the group. Because of her, we have managed to perform in many glitz and galmourous performances.

Some of the performances we had since January 2007,

  • NAFA Ethnomusic Concert Series
  • Asian Civilization Museum Red Festival
  • NUS Southeast Asian Music and Dance
  • Creatively Thai Trade Fair Concert
  • And our most biggest accomplishment was to play with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the NUS Cultural Center where she played her own composition with the NUS Thai Music Ensemble.
We are currently now involved in many projects, together with the support of The Royal Thai Embassy who have help us in many ways.