Page 122 - The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Vol.XIII-2021

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XIII – 2021

Example 4 Cello and Double bass are tapping on the instruments to imitate the sound of drum,
Sinfonia Ayutthaya, mm. 7-13
Example 4 Cello and Double bass are tapping on the instruments to imitate the sound of drum,
Example 4 Cello and Double bass are tapping on the instruments to imitate the sound of drum,
Symphony Ayutthaya, mm. 7-13
Sinfonia Ayutthaya, mm. 7-13
4. Inflection of traditional pitch
4. Inflection of traditional pitch
4. Inflection of traditional pitch
As mentioned, western music has a different tuning system than Southeast Asian
As mentioned, western music has a different tuning system than Southeast
As mentioned, western music has a different tuning system than Southeast Asian
instruments. For western orchestral instruments to imitate the sound of Southeast Asian
Asian instruments. For western orchestral instruments to imitate the sound of
instruments. For western orchestral instruments to imitate the sound of Southeast Asian
instruments, they have to add inflections to the pitch to bend the sound. This creates a hint of
Southeast Asian instruments, they have to add inflections to the pitch to bend the
instruments, they have to add inflections to the pitch to bend the sound. This creates a hint of
frequency change like a microtone affect. This method can be enhanced through adding
sound. This creates a hint of frequency change like a microtone affect. This method
frequency change like a microtone affect. This method can be enhanced through adding
ornamentation, sliding to pitches of string instruments, tonguing technique on wind instruments,
can be enhanced through adding ornamentation, sliding to pitches of string
ornamentation, sliding to pitches of string instruments, tonguing technique on wind instruments,
instruments, tonguing technique on wind instruments, etc. Using this method to
etc. Using this method to create a distortion in the pitch frequency allows western instruments to
create a distortion in the pitch frequency allows western instruments to imitate
etc. Using this method to create a distortion in the pitch frequency allows western instruments to
imitate the sound and performance techniques of traditional instruments.
the sound and performance techniques of traditional instruments.
imitate the sound and performance techniques of traditional instruments.
The flute in the example 5 applied the tonging technique to imitate the sound of Chinese
The flute in the example 5 applied the tonging technique to imitate the sound of Chinese
The flute in the example 5 applied the tonging technique to imitate the
dizi flute (see example 5). The strings also employ grace notes and a portamento sliding pitch to
sound of Chinese dizi flute. The strings also employ grace notes and a portamento
dizi flute (see example 5). The strings also employ grace notes and a portamento sliding pitch to
display the sonic characteristic of Chinese Erhu performance (see example 6).
sliding pitch to display the sonic characteristic of Chinese Erhu performance (see
display the sonic characteristic of Chinese Erhu performance (see example 6).

example 6).

Example 5 Ornamentation in the flute part of Bodindra Symphony, mvt. II, mm. 168-171
Example 5 Ornamentation in the flute part of Bodindra Symphony, mvt. II, mm. 168-171
Example 5 Ornamentation in the flute part of Bodindra Symphony, mvt. II, mm. 168-171
112 Southeast Asian Musical Heritages in Contemporary Composition
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Example 6 Sliding technique in western strings to imitate the Chinese fiddle, Bodindra Symphony, mvt.
II, mm. 167-171

5. Imitating traditional instruments, ensemble, and voice
Southeast Asian instruments and voice have distinct characteristics in the tone color and

performance practices. In a composition that is scored for only western instruments, a new
instrumental technique has to be applied to emulate the unique characteristic of the tone color.

The example here (example 7) is from the second movement of the composition The Empires in
which the characteristics of Mon Buddhist chant are delivered by western string instruments.

Mon chanting has a pitch bending character. Mon monks would curve the pitch at the ending of

each phrase. This is imitated by using western string instruments moving in stepwise motion
with a gliding technique of glissando in chromatic motion (see example7).

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