Since 1992, The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) has developed several programmes to support research in sciences, technology, social sciences and humanities. Each year, more than 1,600 research projects are approved. In 1995, the prestigious TRF Senior Research Scholar Award was established. It is based on well selected and rigorous searches for outstanding scholars from different fields of study. The TRF Research Award has been presented to many scholars of various disciplines who possess integrity, as well as national or international standard of achievement.
Besides her reputation for writing music textbooks, music dictionaries as well as pioneering the performance of traditional Thai music on piano, Prof Natchar Pancharoen of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, was the first person ever in 2013 to receive the TRF Research Scholar Award in Music.
This significant honour came with three-year funding for her to lead a TRF Research Team in Music under her unparalleled music research project called "New Dimensions of Music in Thailand: Integrating Theory into Practice". Working like a scientist, Prof Natchar thinks that artists also meticulously work through the process of experimentation.
This year concluded the three-year-project that resulted in nine promising researchers who were carefully handpicked by her, namely Assistant Professor Nora-ath Chan-Klum, Vanich Potavanich, Assistant Pimchanok Suwannathada, Tasana Nagavajara, Ramasoon Sitalayan, Assistant Professor Dr.Jittapim Yamprai, Yos Vaneesorn, Lertkait Chongjirajitra and Achima Phattanawerangkul. Members of the TRF Research Team in Music have been assigned to work individually on one to three music projects.
Thai violinist Tasana Nagavajara said: "As a professional musician, I think the research aspect is extremely necessary. For me, the research itself can be as enjoyable as playing the instrument. It is almost impossible to interpret any kind of music by only reading black spots on white paper. There is a lot more to be discovered."
Professor Suthipun Jitpimolmard, TRF director, stated that music research with an academic approach is considered to be a groundbreaking movement in Thailand. It creates a pathway for artists to elevate the achievements of their performing arts into higher education accomplishments. The body of knowledge built from this project can effectively benefit music teaching and learning in the future. This mega music research project outcome also includes Dontree-Likhit, a volume of articles on music written by revered music scholars and this troupe of researchers.
Dr Natchar will lead her TRF Research Team in Music and present the seminar to close her music research project. Five topics will be presented: "From Music History Research to an Innovative Composition", "Tous Les Deux: Symphonie en l'honneur de la relation entre la France et le Siam" by Jittapim Yamprai; "Devas Suite" for Orchestra: Performance Analysis by Vanich Potavanich; "Wagthong" Animation (Animation on Golden Phrases from Thai Literature) by Nora-ath Chan-Klum; "Darun Duriyang": Thai Piano Pieces for Children by Achima Phattanawerangkul; and The Process of Composing "Tones for Clarinet Ensemble" by Yos Vaneesorn.
■ The seminar, supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), will be held at the Music Hall, Art and Culture Building, Chulalongkorn University on Friday, 9am-4pm. ■ The event is open to the public. Admission is free with lunch included. Call 02-218-4604.
