A Review of Siamese Musical Instruments in the Annals of Royal French Ambassadors of King Narai the Great

Abstract

This article presents the results of the study of the history of Siamese musical instruments from the annals recorded by the French. During King Narai the Great's reign in the mid and late 17th centuries (between 1656 and 1688), they came to Ayutthaya as a royal ambassador of King Louis XIV on a mission to improve relations with Siam. With the analysis and synthesis of a historical ethnomusicological approach from the primary French source, as well as other relevant English and Thai translations, the findings were concluded as follows: 1) musical instrument nomenclature, 2) physical qualities of musical instruments and their uses, 3) various associated situations, and 4) overall musical instrument synthesis in the Siamese royal court during the Ayutthaya period. The result suggested that the Siamese considered music to be an honorable device for the King. A sense of the rich musicscape described in the country includes musicians, musical instruments, methods of performing, the form of ceremony, and sound characteristics. Due to the limits of the record, this material should be deliberately examined on a cross-cultural basis.