Abstract:
The Thayoi Deow is one of the most advanced solo pieces in Thai traditional music. It was composed by Phra Paditpairoh, who is known as the great master of Toyoi genre. The tune was originally composed as a pii solo to demonstrate special techniques employed by a pii player. The original Thayoi Deow has become the first model for the later generations of composers to create various versions of the melodies for different kinds of Thai traditional instruments. In terms of this Jakhay version, there has been no official evidence confirming that it existed. Thus, this research aimed to develop an innovation of Thai traditional music circle by way of making a new version of this solo composition and investigating the process of making such a Jakhay version of this solo piece for the instrument, which cannot produce a mellifluous and continuous gliding sound between two different notes. The research revealed that in the process of making a new version of this solo special techniques was required for the Jakhay version of Thayoi Deow as follows: 1. The researcher introduced innovative techniques for Jakhay players: (1) doubled fingering (deed siang khaung); (2) circular fingering (deed khaung sai); (3) triplet of fourth and fifth intervals (sabad sam siang khu sii and sabad sam siang khu ha); and (4) elongated strumming with consistency. 2. The structural from Thayoi Deow melody showed that the major part consisted of “Yon” groups. The solo piece is suitable for demonstrating a capability of composer to utilize a set of tonal melodies to emphasize an identity of tonality and tonic note without being limited by length and timing. In particular, “Yon” is a free rhythmic section, which gives the composer an opportunity to create special techniques of Jakhay playing to make continuous sounds smoothly. 3. Thayoi Deow belongs to the Song Mai category, which supremely yields the emotional quality of grieving, separation, and sadness in the first part. The ending part switching to “Khruan”, a musical term used to describe the human emotion of being wavering, repressed and helpless. According to Thai traditional music composition, Thayoi Deow is unique and unconventional in that the first and the latter part are not related. Unlike other solo pieces in Thai music, the first and the latter parts employed different kinds of materials. 4. This solo version of Thayoi Deow for Jakhay has referred the highly respected solo canon from the past by incorporating melodic phrases from Kraw Nai solo, Deow Cherd Nok, and Phleng Tayoi Nai.