Pleasing in Ban Bat: From Thai Music School to the only one “Ram Wong” in Phra Nakhon.

4.Pleasing in Ban Bat: From Thai Music School to the only one “Ram Wong” in Phra Nakhon

When there is free time from work – beating the bat; The Ram Wong, Thai entertainment folk dancing  was started. At the same time, in Ban Bat there was also a famous music school, the music school of Luang Pradit Phairoh (Son Silpabanleng), since he had established his residence in Ban Bat. During the period of 1928 - 1969 was a crucial turning point for Thai society, entering into important social, economic, and political changes. This made this place a caring ground for singers and musicians, giving rise to songs and stage plays such as the Phakawali troupe, as well as relationships with singers and songwriters in the Suntaraporn band network who came to mingle with the people in the Ban Bat community. This led us to the emergence of a unique song and dance troupe, the only one left in the Phra Nakhon area that is at risk of disappearing at this time.

4.1 The Journey of Musicophile in Ban Bat

Formerly, Luang Pradit Phairoh (The one of Thai musicians who is important in the music industry. His original name is Sorn Silapabanleng) came from Amphwah District, Samut Songkram – his hometown. Silapabanleng was learned in the Piphat orchestra and got a chance to compete in various events. Then, he became a musician under the patronage of Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse.

After Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse passed away in 1928 (B.E. 2471), Silapabanleng and family moved out from the original house located in front of the palace to a small alley in the Ban Bat area, and called Silapabanleng House. After that, this house was demolished and added to the Sukkamon Flat building and became a wasteland nowadays. Formerly, his house became a gathering place for musicians, composers, and a renowned music and drama school, known as Ban Bat Music School.

The one side of Silapabanleng House is still a space for the one biggest and most important – Wai Khru ceremony (The ceremony of appreciation to teachers and knowledge of art) in Phra Nakhon. Later, this event moved to Wat Phra Phiren, due to the relationship between music school of Ban Bat and Wat Phra Phiren’s abbot are more familiar with Silapabanleng than the other for borrowed materials and invited monks to chant ceremonies for long times

4.2 “Ram Wong Ban Bat” , the vestige of amusement in the Thai Nationalism era is living.

Ram Wong Ban Bat - Ban Bat’s Folkdance was risen when Field Marshal P. Phibunsongkhram in order to renew nationalism with music and arts , in the WW2 era. They invent new lyrics and posture dance, and propagate to another area, whether inside or outside of Phra Nakhon at all –  that affects Ram Wong to fame in every single place. At first, their songs are sung in only Ram Thon’s melody: use instruments such as Ching (Thai Finger cymbals), Chab (Thai Cymbals), Krab (Thai Finger wood cymbals) and  Thon (Thai hand drum) to percussion for folk dance. Later), they added Tambourine, Maracas and Tomba drums for percussion too.

In Ban Bat’s case, we usually play Ram Wong at the ground center of the village after making Bat handcrafts. We play on stage for big festivals like Songkran day, The worship of Por Pu ceremony, Loy Krathong day, Wat Saket’s night festival and another pleasure festival.

In the past, there were famous Ram Wong choirs in Bangkok such as the Samyan Ram Wong, the King Phet Thai Ram Wong, and the Ban Bat Ram Wong, each choir had a competition frequently. There are no less than 30 important Ram Wong  Ban Bat's songs, we believed that the culture of composing Ban Bat songs involves the exchange of songs between people in the community and the Ban Luang Pradit Phairoh Music School, including the Suntaraporn singers who came to mingle in Ban Bat, such as Lert Prasomsap and Somsak Thepanon.

Ram Wong Ban Bat had a specific position in their band; men were singing and playing music, ladies were dancing with their songs. The first generation of Ram Wong had Suthep Sudthadit, Chanachai Absrisang and etc. are regular musician, but they had many song writer in their Ram Wong such as “ Lu-Luang-Wan-Di (let be a good day)” and “Kang-Kuen-Duen-Nghai (A growing moon)” by Phra Paen, , “Ma-Lai-Aoey (Oh garland) by Pid Bunprakob, “Choen-Si-Choen-Duem (Raise a Glass)” by Tin, “Jai-Noh-Jai (Alas, my heart)” and “Mon-Nang (Enchanting lady)” by Ampon Thananthong (Juk), “Mae-Nong-Sao-Aoei (Oh, young lady)” by Mhong Tae, and “Suk-Nak-Nah (Pleasure Heart)” by Uncle Chu Yok etc.

When the time changed, The Ram Wong Ban Bat faded away. Until 2007, we tried to preserve and inherit again from the people who ever lived and play with them to collect our forgotten songs and play for other occasions. However, the Ram Wong Ban Bat are in crisis to inherit for long living even though they try to preserve. Although the Ram Wong Ban Bat’re familiar in elderly, they also wait for a new generation group and interested individuals to fight our last breath again.