Korphai
Korphai Ensemble, Korphai or kor phai (Thai: กอไผ่, pronounced [kɔː pʰàj], RTGS: ko phai) which literally means a 'bunch of bamboo', is an ensemble of traditional Thai percussion music.[1][2]
It was established in the 1980s by Anant Narkkong, the present musical director of the ensemble, who is a professor of ethnomusicology and composition at the Faculty of Music at Silpakorn University.[3][4] He also airs a radio program of Thai music at the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand.[4]
Music
The group plays Thai classical, or piphat, as well as Thai contemporary music. Throughout the past 20 years, Korphai has released a number of albums and performed in numerous public concerts in Thailand, including a performance with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.[5] The group has also performed abroad, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin.[2]
The groups is also involved in the music used in Thai films, documentaries, theatres, plays, and festival presentations, such as "Thai Percussion Days 2004" in Vienna. Their music was used in the Thai films, The Legend of Suriyothai (2001)[2] and The Overture[6][7] (2004). The Overture won Best Music with Kor Phai named as co-recipient in Star Entertainment Awards 2004[8] and Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards.[9]
In 2005, at the concert dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations at the Chaktomuk Theatre, the performance of the ensemble "won accolades from members of Cambodian royal family", Bangkok Post reported.[10]
Discography
- 2007 - Korphai : Bamboo Songs Bamboo Sounds[11]
- 2004 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The Overture[12]
- 2003 - Homrak Hom Rong (The Delightful Overture) (Label: Nong Taprachan)[13]
- Ratree Pradap Dao
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1983 | National Music Contest, the national theatre |
| 2004 | "The Overture" Best Film Music and Score, Hamburger Award |
| 2005 | "The Overture" Best Film Music and Score, Thailand Critics Association |
| 2005 | "The Overture" Best Film Music, Thailand Media Association |
Korphai Music Genres
1. Traditional Thai Music: Piphat, Mahoree, Kruangsai Ancient repertoire and selected compositions from famous Thai composers.
2. Folk-Pop music Variety of songs; ranging from Thai folks to international popular music.
3. Fusion Jazz music Variety of Thai songs rearranged in fusion style.
4. Asian-mix Musics of Southeast Asian; rearranged in flexible performance style including stage movements.
5. Experimental music Improvisations & Compositions from modern Thai composers plus multi-media presentations.
6. Theatre Music / Film Music
Korphai musicians
| Name | Role | Instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Anant Narkkong | Music Director | Percussion |
| Prasarn Wongwirojrak | Member | Vibraphone, Percussion |
| Chaibhuk Bhutrachinda | Composer | Gong, Electric Guitar |
| Asdavuth Sagarik | Member | Ranat, Gong, Khim |
| Banhan Palo | Percussion, Instruments Tuner | |
| Lerkiat Mahavinijchaimontri | Coordinator | Fiddle, coordinator |
| Thawisak Akarawong | Member | Leading Xylophone |
| Tossaporn Tassana | Technician | Drums |
| Kanokporn Tassana | Singer | |
| Amon Bhuthanu | Member | Keyboard, Gong, Xylophone |
| Akkrapon Apicho | Member | Bass |
References
- ^ SGI Quarterly April, 2005 - Arts and Education
- ^ a b c "Percussion Festival" (Austria) (in German)
- ^ Encuentro Musical Tailandés/"Anant Narkkong"[permanent dead link] (in Spanish)
- ^ a b "Meet the Thai Music"[permanent dead link], Diario Diplomatico Online (Chile), retrieved 5 December 2007 (in Spanish)
- ^ BSO hooked on classics Archived 10 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2007-12-07
- ^ The Overture profile at the Seattle International Film Festival
- ^ From the review of The Overture: "With a soundtrack of meticulously crafted music by the Kor Phai ensemble, the movie has wiped out the view that Thai classical music is outdated and dull." In: "Movie acts as wake-up call for the young", Bangkok Post, 29 February 2003
- ^ Star Entertainment Awards 2004 at sanook.com (in Thai)
- ^ [1] (in Thai)
- ^ "Coming together Through Music", Bangkok Post, 1 October 2005 (a copy of the article is archived here)
- ^ "Bamboo Songs Bamboo Sounds" CD info
- ^ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The Overture, liner notes
- ^ ThaiCDexpress.com - Complete Thai Entertainment Online Store!, Thai CD, Thai VCD, Thai Movies, Thai Music, World Wide Delivery
External links
- Korphai profile at the Cultural Projects Factory
- "Korphai Colourful Thai Percussion"
- Electroacoustic piece[permanent dead link] at the Mahidol University library. Commission by Patravadi Theatre, Live Premiere at Konzerthaus Wien, Austria in 2004 by Korphai Ensemble