Abstract
Thai traditional music exhibits number of relative characteristics, though many of them are not expressed explicitly but only demonstrated orally. Its tuning system, despite having been put through many scientific studies for decades, cannot be given the absolute pitch frequencies. It is therefore possible that the tuning system does not have any absolute pitch frequencies but possesses relative nature. This papers aims to present the historic background, characteristics, past, current practices of Thai traditional music’s tuning system and to put forward the theoretical idea of non-existence of absolute tuning frequency and that of relative nature of Thai traditional music’s tuning system. The data was collected from previous researches on Thai traditional music’s tuning system and from sample instruments. The latter was then compared to each other and analyzed with respect to the former. The preliminary results were that tuning system of Thai traditional music was in the form of seven-tone equal temperament without any sharps or flats. But practically, it was not exactly equal as musicians still prefer the traditionalbiased tunings which is believed to be more tuneful. Regarding the tuning practices, the tuning of Fine Arts Department are most dominating among several others. Even though, the tuning of Fine Arts Department measure from various sources are slightly different in terms of frequencies and intervals. It can be concluded that the tuning system of Thai traditional music does not rely on specific pitch frequency, but is relative to intervals and personal preferences and its absolute pitch frequency is yet to be established.
Highlights
The word Relative is defined in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary in the first entry as considered and judged by being compared with something else”
When considering the context under which the word relative is employed in various scopes, including music, we can transitively arrive at a preliminary conclusion that when something is designated with the word relative, it conveys the state of being connected to one other thing or more - of not being absolute
There was PhraChenduriyang, a Thai band master who put forward the influential concept of tuning system of Thai traditional music in his somewhat brief writing that “As already stated, the Thai diatonic scale, is composed of seven full tones within its octave
Summary
The word Relative is defined in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary in the first entry as considered and judged by being compared with something else”. Thai musicians do not expressively refer to these characteristics directly by the term itself, they are very well aware of its existence. This happens so because Thai traditional music is an oral tradition wherein the knowledge is being transmitted without much written evidence. Almost every writing dealing with Thai traditional music culture is in Thai and, more disappointingly, those written in other universal languages provide insufficient details. Combining these factors together, despite Thai traditional musician’s fine perception of Thai traditional music’s relative nature, the concept seems to be a very difficult concept to recognize and visualize even by native enthusiasts, let alone those foreign with Thailand’s musical culture
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Creative and Arts Studies
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
