wara worawet: phleng banleng khrueangsai phasom, vol. 7

artist: วราห์ วรเวช / วงเครื่องสายผสม คณะ วัชรบรรเลง (wara worawet & wong khrueang sai phasom khana watcharabanleng)
album: เพลงบรรเลงเครื่องสายผสม ชุดที่ 7 แสนคำนึง (phleng banleng khrueang sai phasom, vol. 7: saen kham nueng)
tracklist:
01. แสนคำนึง (saen kham nueng)
02. ครวญหา (khruan ha)
03. แสนสุดสวาท (saen sut sawat)
04. สุดสงวน (sut sanguan)
05. สารถี (sarathi)
06. สาวสอดแหวน (sao sot waen)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we'll hear our second entry from wara worawet! a physician by profession (graduating from the university of pennsylvania in 1961) mr. wara was also a prolific songwriter (having a number of luk krung & thai sakon-style hits to his name) as well as a leader of the musical association of thailand under patronage of his majesty the king. on this cassette, he tries his hand at the prayuk movement, a trend of "modernizing" thai classical music to appeal to an increasingly cosmopolitan local audience. in particular, this recording features a khrueang sai phasom or "combined string" ensemble, conducted by suwit bowonwatthana, and based on the traditional thai string ensemble (which typical featured so u and so duang fiddles, chakhe plucked zithers, khlui flute and percussion). to my ear, the phasom aspect regards the addition of accordion, chinese-style dulcimer, and perhaps some other elements that a more astute listener than i could divine? the repertoire features work from a number of prominent thai composers including luang pradit phairo (son sinlapabanleng), luang sano duriyang (thongdi thongphirun), luang sano duriyang (thongdi thongphirun), montri tramot, and phra pradit phairo (mi duriyangkun), several of which are based on more ancient melodies and which in turn feature further arrangement by mr. wara.. enjoy!

preview: