Exploring the Impacts of Western Music on Thai Opera: Foundations and Developments in Composition and Performance through the Twentieth Century

This paper explores how aspects in the Western idiom have influenced Thai Opera in Western style. The first Thai Opera was written (but not performed) as early as 1911 by King Rama VI. However, since the turn of the Twenty-first Century, there has been an increase in the scholarly study of opera composition in Thailand (Amatyakul, 2007; Inkhong, 2011). This presentation raises important dialogue on the significance of King Rama VI, specifically regarding the foundation(s) and development(s) of Thai Opera. Discussions also focus on how his work has influenced later composers, e.g. Somtow Sulcharitkul (b.1952), who’s work Madana was the first-ever performed Thai Opera (2001), Krisada Reyes (b. 1960), who’s work “The story of the long gone animal” was the first Thai opera that sing in Thai (2008) and Bruce Gaston, an American composer who claim himself as Thai person, composed “A boy and A tiger” (2011).

Analysis rests on interviews with Thai composers and important Thai musicians: Somtow Sulcharitkul, Krisada Reyes and Ammatyakul (Mahidol University) who previously worked and grew up with the Thai Royal Family; and the other with Sulcharitkul. Formal interviews were translated from Thai to English. Transcriptions reveal the extent to which culture and politics have impacted (positively and negatively) on Thai Opera composition and performance: themes include the socio-political revolution(s) and prejudices. Although the discussions presented in this paper stem from the author’s doctoral research, analytical perspectives include the viewpoint of the author’s professional experience(s) as an opera singer born and educated in Thailand. Findings suggest that although socio-culturally- and politically- significant, very little is known about Thai Opera. As an incredibly under-researched subject, this paper offers new insights on the topic. A working anthology is proposed in order to historically archive Thai Opera.





Keywords: Thai Opera; Thailand; interview; culture; composition