Abstract

Ensemble music in Thailand is an indispensable form of music culture and includes “piphat,” “khrung sai,” and “mahori” from the central region of Thailand. It roughly corresponds to the performance form of chamber music in the European music system. As an instrument loved all over the world, piano often appears in chamber music performances. In the history of Thailand, there has been a record of playing piano in combination with Thai musical instruments since the reign of King Rama V (Chulalongkorn), and the piano was sponsored and promoted by the royal family during the period of King Rama VI. Famous Thai pianists include Sumitra Sucharitkul, Col. Choochart Pitaksakorn, and Natchar Pancharoen. In this article, through the study of intercultural composition combining the ensemble form of piano and Thai musical instruments, the author proposes a new path and a strategy for spreading Thai traditional music. This new path and strategic vision are based on a new form of performance combining the piano and Thai string ensemble. Traditional Thai works are used as the basis for the dissemination of traditional Thai culture, but using the vehicle of a hybrid composition in a modern musical form.