Piphat

A "piphat" ( _th. ปี่พาทย์) is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments. It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire, including the Buddhist invocation entitled "Satukan"( _th. สาธุการ) as well as the suites called "phleng ruang". It is also used to accompany traditional Thai theatrical and dance forms including "khon" ( _th. โขน) (masked dance-drama), "lakhon" (classical dance), and shadow puppet theater.

Hard-mallet vs. soft-mallet

The most common form of "piphat" is called "piphat mai khaeng" (ปี่พาทย์ไม้แข็ง). This ensemble uses an oboe called "pi" (after which the "piphat" ensemble is named), in combination with xylophones, gong circles, and other percussion instruments, with the xylophones and gong circles using hard mallets, creating a very bright, loud sound. A quieter variety of "piphat" ensemble, called "piphat mai nuam"(ปี่พาทย์ไม้นวม), uses a vertical flute called "khlui piang or" in place of the "pi", and soft mallets are used in place of hard mallets. Because the "piphat mai nuam" produces a relatively soft, mellow sound, the large "glawng thad" drums are not used. Also, the ensemble may include "saw u", to enhance its soft sound.

Types of "piphat"

The smallest "piphat", called "piphat khruang ha", is composed of six instruments: "pi nai" (oboe); "ranad ek" (xylophone); "khong wong yai" (gong circle); "taphon" or other Thai drums; "khlong thad", a set of two large barrel drums beaten with sticks; and "ching" (small cymbals). Often other small percussion instruments such as "krab" or "chab" are used.

A slightly larger "piphat" ensemble is called "piphat khruang khu", and consists of eight musical instruments. The other two instruments are the "ranad thum" (xylophone), which produces a deeper sound than the "ranad ek", and "khong wong lek", a gong circle that is higher in pitch than the "khong wong yai".

The largest form of "piphat" ensemble is the "piphat khruang yai", which consists of ten musical instruments. Another ones are "ranat ek lek" and "ranat thum lek"; these are almost the same as their ancestors, the "ranad ek" and "ranad thum", but they have keys made from metal instead of wood.

Piphat khruang ha

"Wong piphat khruang ha" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์เครื่องห้า) is an ensemble consisting of:
# 1 pi nai - bass oboe
# 1 taphon - secondary timekeeper
# 1 ching - main timekeeper
# 1 khong wong yai - bass gongs hanged in semicircular track
# 2 glong thad - Thai tympani
# 1 ranad ek - treble xylophone

Piphat khruang khu

"Wong piphat khruang khu" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์เครื่องคู่) is developed from "piphat khruang ha", by arranging instruments in pairs of treble-bass. It consists of:
# 1 pi nai - bass oboe
# 1 pi nok - treble oboe
# 1 taphon - secondary timekeeper
# 1 glong songna or 2 glong khaek
# 2 glong thad - Thai tympani
# 1 ching - main timekeeper
# 1 chab
# 1 khong wong yai - bass gongs hung in semicircular track
# 1 khong wong lek - treble version of gongs hung in semicircular track
# 1 khong mong
# 1 ranad ek - treble xylophone
# 1 ranad thum - bass xylophone

Piphat khruang yai

"Wong piphat khruang yai" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์เครื่องใหญ่ is arranged by adding "ranad ek lek" (ระนาดเอกเหล็ก; treble metallophone) and "ranad thum lek" (ระนาดทุ้มเหล็ก; bass metallophone) to the "wong piphat khruang khu".

Piphat nang hong

"Wong piphat nang hong" (( _th. วงปี่พาทย์นางหงส์)) is an ensemble used in funerals. It is arranged by replacing the "pi nai" and "pi nok" with a "pi chawa". The name "nang hong" comes from name of its main song.

Piphat duek dam ban

"Wong piphat duek dam ban" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์ดึกดำบรรพ์);literally "ancient ensemble") was proposed by Prince Naris for using in Thai opera. It consists of:

#1 ranad ek
#1 taphon
#1 ranad thum
#1 ranad thum lek
#1 khong wong yai
#1 ching
#1 taphon - "tympani" made by using two taphons arranged together.
#1 saw u
#1 khlui u - bass flute
#1 khlui phiang aw - medium
#1 wong khong chai-a set of 7 khong chai with different size hung on wooden bar.

Piphat mon

"Wong piphat mon" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์มอญ) has three sizes:

Piphat mon khruang ha

"Wong piphat mon khruang ha" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์มอญเครื่องห้า) consists of:
#1 ranad ek
#1 pi mon - bass oboe with horn-shaped end.
#1 khong mon wong yai - a set of bass gongs set in vertical frame (unlike khong wong yai, which gongs are set in horizontal semicircular frame).
#1 poeng mang khog (เปิงมางคอก) or "khog poeng" (คอกเปิง) - Mon drums set in cage-shaped frame.
# ching, chab and khong mong

Piphat mon khruang khu

"Wong piphat mon khruang khu" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์มอญเครื่องคู่) is arranged by adding "ranad toom" and "khong mon wong lek" to the "piphat mon khruang ha".

Piphat mon khruang yai

"Wong piphat mon khruang yai" ( _th. วงปี่พาทย์มอญเครื่องใหญ่) is arranged by adding "ranad ek lek" and "ranad thum lek" to the "piphat mon khruang khu".

The "piphat mon" ensemble is usually used in funerals, as it produces slow song. But it can be used in other fair.

The "piphat" ensemble can be mixed with the "khruang sai" ensemble to create new ensemble called "khruang sai prasom piphat" (เครื่องสายประสมปี่พาทย์ or เครื่องสายผสมปี่พาทย์).

imilar ensembles

The Cambodian equivalent of the "piphat" is called "pinpeat".

ee also

*Khruang sai
*Mahori
*Music of Thailand
*Korphai

References

* [http://www.thaigoodview.com/library/teachershow/sakaew/sornchai_p/ranad/sec03p01.html Piphat ensemble (Thai)]
* [http://www.thaigoodview.com/library/teachershow/sakaew/sornchai_p/ranad/sec03p02.html Piphat nang hong (Thai)]
* [http://www.thaigoodview.com/library/teachershow/sakaew/sornchai_p/ranad/sec03p03.html Piphat deuk dam ban (Thai)]
* [http://www.msu.ac.th/satit/studentProj/2547/pj102-2-2547/g15-ThaiMusic/web7.htm Further information about piphat ensemble (Thai)] ]

External links

Listening

* [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai/music/classical/thaiensemble/pi_phat_ensemble.htm Pi Phat Ensemble page] from SEAsite