Abstract:
Street music is a public performance often seen in Bangkok with both socially
and musically interesting points. This study looks at street music from three
perspectives: a) its history; b) the characteristics of musicians emphasizing their ways
of living in the city; c) musical forms and performances. These three aspects have
been studied here using an ethnographical approach.
In the past, street musicians were recognized by the name waniphok (gypsy
musician), traveling place to place to sing phleng kho thaan (beggars song), and the
audience would give them dry food, mainly rice. The beggars songs had an exciting
and arousing rhythm, and were enjoyable and fascinating. At present the gypsy
musicians are street musicians performing various kinds of musical instruments.
The street musicians of the present are diverse in various aspects. There are
disabled and non-disabled musicians; they are of various ages, performances, and
musical purposes. Regarding the instruments, studies have found folk Thai musical
instruments, traditional Thai instruments, Western instruments and newly invented
ones. Both individual musicians and group musicians are also found. The selection of
the songs is made depending upon the preferences of both the musicians and the
audiences.
Studies have offered interesting perspectives on urban society: a) difficult
economics in Thailand; b) street musicians as a problem in the city; c) the social
network of the street musicians; d) usage of public places to communicate with other
Thais; e) point of view concerning donations of Thais; f) reflections of the
governments responsibility; g) a perspective on music and performing arts which are
the ways of expressing the musicians ideas.