Accompanied to heaven by the performances she loved
The Vie Trio will bid farewell to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana at the royal crematorium in November.During her lifetime, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana was a keen patron of the Thai arts and harboured a great love of western classical music.
Her sponsorships, scholarships and sheer enjoyment of the arts have left a legacy that will flow on down the years. So it is fitting that all of the arts she loved so much in life should play a big role in her funeral and cremation ceremony in November.
In particular, it will be the first time that western classical music, which she adored, will be played at a Thai royal funeral and cremation.
And playing the music will be some of those whom she encouraged to study and learn classical instruments.
As Her Royal Highness ascends to heaven, she will accompanied by the music and art of the best artists Thailand has to offer.
Normally in Asian culture, including in Thailand, funerals and cremations are solemn affairs with room for moments of joy and pleasure to help grieving friends and relatives balance their sadness at the loss of a loved one.
For the farewell to the beloved Princess, known for her love of Thai arts and culture in its purest forms, there will be likay, which often combines popular drama with humour and joy.
Upscale performances of khon Thai masked dancing and nang yai, the shadow puppet show that has thrilled children for centuries and lakhon nok, the play performed by all-female casts and marionettes, will be showcased during the royal cremation.
This tradition of classic Thai cultural performances dates back over 600 years to the early Ayutthaya period.
The commemoration has been toned down since the reign of King Rama V and was almost completely phased out by King Rama VI, who believed that funerals should be characterised by understated grief.
This low-key approach to royal funerals continued even for the high-profile royal cremation of Queen Rambhai Barni in 1985.
But funeral entertainment was restored in the last royal cremation — that of the Princess Mother over a decade ago.
Fine Arts Department director-general Kriengkrai Sampatchalit said the performances for the funeral ceremony for Her Royal Highness, which begins on Nov 15, will be ‘‘full scale’’ and ‘‘unprecedented’’.
Western classical music, which was her favourite, will be performed at night.
The department is planning to build three stages at Sanam Luang to accommodate the performances.
The northern stage opposite the royal crematorium will host the khon and nang yai performances.
The acts will start at 7pm and carry on through until dawn on Nov 16, with a break from 9pm to 10.30pm, when His Majesty the King will proceed with the royal cremation.
Both khon and nang yai performances will include episodes from the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic.
The Ramayana is often chosen for royal events, as it depicts the reincarnation of Phra Narai, a Hindu god who becomes mankind’s saviour. The theme reflects the belief in which the birth of the God-king occurs, a tenet from which Thailand’s monarchy originated.
trio – a group of three people, especially performers who perform together กลุ่มสามคน
bid farewell – to say goodbye กล่าวคำอำลา
crematorium – a building where the bodies of dead people are burned (cremated) เมรุ
keen – eager; having a strong interest in something ที่กระตือรือร้น
patron – someone who supports the work of writers, artists, musicians, etc, especially by giving them money ผู้อุปถัมภ์
harbour – to have มีให้
sheer enjoyment – a high level of enjoyment เปี่ยมล้นด้วยความสุข ปิติ
legacy – something that someone has achieved that continues to exis after they stop working or die มรดก หรือสิ่งที่สืบทอดมาจากคนรุ่นก่อน
fitting – suitable; appropriate เหมาะสม
encourage – to suggest that someone does something that you think would be good; to give someone confidence or hope กระตุ้นให้
ascend – to go up ขึ้นสู่
solemn – serious ที่เคร่งขรึม
grieving – feeling very sad since someone has died ความเศร้าโศกเนื่องจากการสูญเสีย
upscale – designed for people who have a lot of money or a high position in society สำหรับชนชั้นสูงของสังคม
masked – wearing a covering on the face (a mask) สวมหน้ากาก
thrill – to cause to feel very excited and pleased ตื่นเต้น
cast – all the performers in a play, film, etc. นักแสดง
marionette – a small model of a person or animal that hangs from strings or wires that are used for making it move หุ่นเชิด หุ่นกระบอก
showcase – to show someone or something in a way that attracts attention and
emphasises their good qualities แสดงจุดเด่นของคนหรือสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่ง
commemoration – something intended to honour and remember an important person or event การเฉลิมฉลอง
tone down – to make something less severe or noticeable ทำให้เบาบางลง น้อยลงจนแทบจะไม่สังเกตเห็น
reign – the period of time when a king or queen rules a country ระยะเวลาครองราชย์
phase out – to gradually stop something from being done ค่อยๆ จางหายไป
understated – not trying to impress people or to attract their attention กล่าวถึงอย่างไม่เต็มที่
low-key – not attracting a lot of attention ไม่ค่อยได้รับความสนใจ
high-profile – often seen in public, mentioned in newspapers, or appearing on television ที่เป็นที่รู้จักกันดีในสายตาสาธารณชน
decade – a period of ten years ทศวรรษ
unprecedented – never having happened before ที่ไม่เคยเกิดขึ้นมาก่อน
proceed – to go ahead with ดำเนินการต่อไป
episode – a part of a story that forms one of a series of parts to a longer story ตอนหนึ่งหรือส่วนหนึ่งของเรื่อง
epic – a long poem or story that tells of ancient people and gods มหากาพย์
depict – to describe someone or something using words or pictures บรรยา พรรณาถึงผู้ใดผู้หนึ่ง
reincarnation – being born again after dying เกิดใหม่ (จุติ)
saviour – a person who saves someone or something from trouble or danger ผู้ช่วยชีวิต
reflect – to show แสดง สะท้อนถึง
tenet – a principle or a belief ความเชื่อทางศาสนาหรืการเมือง
monarchy – a type of government in which a country is ruled by a king or queen
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