Reinforcing Harmonious Relationships: UCLA's Revival of Thai Musical Instruments Boosts Community Bonding
In an effort to preserve and revitalize traditional Thai music culture, the UCLA ethnomusicology department has embarked on a significant project focused on restoring and preserving old Thai musical instruments. This project, which includes scholarly research, archiving musical instruments, and engaging with the Thai community, is part of a broader initiative to document and revitalize traditional Thai music.
A Revitalization of Thai Musical Heritage
UCLA’s ethnomusicology program has a longstanding interest in Asian music traditions, including Thai music. This is evident in collections like the Thai Music Inventory, which houses scholarly and popular articles on various aspects of Thai music. The restoration project is taking place within this context, with the aim of preserving Thailand’s intangible cultural heritage.
Cultural Preservation and Community Engagement
The restoration of old Thai musical instruments has several impacts. It helps preserve rare and traditional instruments, supports ethnomusicological research, and enhances student and scholar engagement with living musical traditions. Collaboration with Thai musicians and artisans ensures community knowledge and craftsmanship remain vibrant.
Partnerships with the Thai Community
UCLA’s ethnomusicology efforts typically involve close partnerships with the communities whose traditions they study. For Thai music, this includes working directly with Thai musicians, instrument makers, and cultural organizations to restore instruments authentically and facilitate cultural exchange. Such partnerships ensure respectful handling of cultural artifacts and foster mutual benefit.
A Successful Collaboration
In 2014, Professor Helen Rees, director of UCLA's world music instrument collection, requested Supeena Insee Adler, a classical Thai musician and instrument repairer, to restore about 40 of these instruments. The project, which took place at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall, gave the instruments their voices back and provided students access to them for classroom use and concerts.
The project has been particularly rewarding for UCLA ethnomusicology, strengthening ties between the department and the Thai Music Foundation in Bangkok. Last month, Rees, Adler, and Aaron Bittel from UCLA's ethnomusicology department traveled to Thailand to speak at a music symposium about the project and the department's extensive archive of world music.
The project has been instrumental in renewing and creating ties with the Thai community. It has built a strong bond between UCLA's ethnomusicology department and the Thai community in Los Angeles and Thailand. The Luang Praditphairoh Thai Music Foundation in Bangkok, which consists of Thai classical musicians and scholars, has also been involved in the project.
For more precise details or updates on active projects from UCLA’s department, contacting UCLA Ethnomusicology or accessing their official resources could provide the most authoritative information.
[1] "UCLA Ethnomusicology: Thai Music Inventory." UCLA Library. https://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/ethnomusicology/collections/thai-music-inventory [3] "Ethnomusicology: An Introduction." 5th ed. Edited by Philip V. Bohlman, Bruno Nettl, and Robert M. W. Dixon. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Promoting Thai Music and Lifelong Learning
As a part of UCLA's lifelong learning approach, the ethnomusicology department secures online education resources such as the Thai Music Inventory, which facilitates widespread learning about the history and workings of traditional Thai music.
Cultural Preservation Beyond Borders
UCLA's ethnomusicology initiatives extend beyond the classroom, with international collaborations fostering cross-cultural understanding, such as the preservation of Thai musical instruments with the Thai Music Foundation in Bangkok.
Innovation in Entertainment and Education
Integrating entertainment and education, the restoration project brings music from another culture directly to students and scholars, creating opportunities for both learning and enjoying the unique sounds of Thailand's traditional music.
