Ramtone Nokphithid in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This article is a partial fulfillment for the requirements of the thesis titled “RamTone Nokphithid in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.” Its objective is to study the background of RamTone Nokphithid performance. A qualitative research method is applied, focusing mainly on field research, participatory and non-participatory observation, interviews and document study so as to gain insight information of the data for analysis and synthesis. The research results revealed the followings:

In Krung Ching Sub-district, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, there is a folk game called “RamTone Nokphithid” which has taken on the style of singing and dancing of “RamTone” from the central region as a model, modifying the lyrics and dance moves to suit the local context by Kru Nab Luengluerit, a government teacher at Wat Pien, Krung Ching Sub-district, who adopted the RamTone from the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and publicized it for entertainment and relief of the villagers in the Krung Ching during the events of World War II at that time. Kru Nab had basic skills in Manorah dance so he initiated the dance moves and lyrics, basing on the nature and the local way of life. The dancing has its uniqueness and beliefs like the Manorah dance: The show would start with an invitation song as an accompanying song behind the scene, followed by a Wai Kru song and always ended with a goodbye song. There are 12 dance moves from Nora and three musical instruments, namely a Tone, a couple of small cup-shaped Cymbals and big traditional Cymbals. The cast consist of men and women. Originally, women wear the “khaenkrabok” blouse or “khorkrachao” blouse, and long sarong or Jongkraben. Man wears shirt and pants with a loincloth girded around the waist. Later on, the dress has been adjusted to have a unique identity of the southern region to suit the local area. In Nok Phithid show, the dresses must look funny, and the characters have white powder on their faces and wear the Nok Phithid heads. The show is  popularly performed on special occasions such as novice or monk ordinations, temple fairs, etc. In the past, the Nok Phitchid dance would only be passed on or inherited among relatives or people of the same family. Nok Phithid dance derived from the name of Nok Phithid song, a main song, emphasizing on comedy, and not focusing on beauty. It represents the courtship of a male Phithid bird toward a female, so this play is called “RamTone Nokphithid”