His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a prolific composer and meticulously kept notes throughout the creative process, drawing lines and dots by hand. Some of these artefacts were preserved, said Assoc Prof Pathorn Srikaranonda, and will be on display at "The Royal Music Legacy" exhibition at EmQuartier in Bangkok from Nov 29 to Dec 11.
- Video: Legacy of a royal band
If there's one accomplishment in His Majesty's life that people are most familiar with, it's his virtuosity in music, and only a few people could say they knew the King's music better than Pathorn, 43, who has been the King's musical partner since he was 13, after his father, national artist and maestro Manrat Srikaranonda, got him to play an instrument in front of the late monarch.
Since then, Pathorn played music for and with the King as a member of A.S. Friday -- the King's private band. King Bhumibol also sponsored Pathorn through his tertiary education abroad in music composition with his own personal funds. The two worked closely together on music ever since.
After three decades of service for the King, and now a month following His Majesty's departure, Pathorn looked back at those precious memories, stories and the astounding repertoire of the King's creations. The sweet sound of saxophone still resonates in his mind as he recalled to Life the roles music has played throughout King Bhumibol's life.
CONNECT THE PEOPLE
The King and a younger Pathorn Srikaranonda. Photo courtesy of Pathorn Srikaranonda
In King Bhumibol's early days, he founded Lai Khram -- a music band featuring his elderly relatives. Later he recruited younger musicians into the band and they began broadcasting their live sessions from the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall within Dusit Palace on Fridays. The band's name was changed to Au Sau Wan Sook (A.S. Friday) -- Au Sau being an acronym of how Amphorn Sathan sounds in the Thai language, while Wan Sook means Friday.
"The King realised and acknowledged the power of music, and at the time he used it to communicate with the people," Pathorn said. "Anyone could call in to request music. If the band can't play that song, then he would play the record instead. He even answered the phone himself. People didn't know they were speaking to the King as His Majesty didn't like to reveal his presence."
After the political unrest in 1973, A.S. Friday took a step back from being on the forefront of royal communication. The broadcast stopped as the King grew busy with work and rural outings. The band then only gathered for private jamming sessions at King Bhumibol's leisure.
"For the past 40 years, many thought the King had given up his instruments, but he still played all the time, though mainly to relax from his work," said Pathorn. "When His Majesty played, he was most himself. We have seen him as a king, a developer, but never really as a human being. We can feel that through his music."
Pathorn cited Sidney Bechet, Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges and Louis Armstrong as some of King Bhumibol's favourite artists.
"I once asked the King why he wasn't into contemporary music like, say, Michael Jackson. But it was quite understandable. He was a teenager in the pre-World War II era, and that reflected in his thinking. It was his generation."
His Majesty's favourite instrument was an alto saxophone although, as a true virtuoso, he was also able to play clarinet, trumpet, piano, guitar and drum.
"The King was really into old-school jazz, like the New Orleans jazz or swing. He liked melodies that didn't move too fast."
New Orleans jazz, according to Pathorn, is set apart from other kinds of jazz with its collective improvisation.
"It's like solo improvisation, but with a lot of people at the same time," he said. "You need good listening skills, and you need to interact with one another as everything happens in real time. You can't really plan it. That was one of His Majesty's skills, and one that he passed on to me. He taught that, as in a band, everyone must perform their duty well in society. We're all gears and wheels in a machine and, regardless of size, we matter equally -- whether you're a king, taxi driver, barber, soldier or businessman. Everyone has a duty, as if everyone performs their duty well, the country will move forward. That is what the King taught via music, via New Orleans jazz."
HOPE AND COURAGE
The theme of King Bhumibol's compositions changed according to the country's situation at different times, and they also served as his tool in shaping the country and reaching the people.
Some of the instruments to be exhibited at The Royal Music Legacy. Photos: Jetjaras na Ranong
In 1946, as a prince, he composed Sang Thien (Candlelight Blues) -- a post-war reflection, as well as his experiment with blues music.
"His Majesty didn't release the song right away. The timing wasn't right. People were still stressed over the war. Instead, he put out an easy listening numbers like Yam Yen (Love At Sundown) and Sai Fon (Falling Rain) to soothe the people."
Following the uprising of 1973, the King's composition took a patriotic turn with the release of Kwarm Fun Un Soong Sood (The Impossible Dream) and Rao Su (literally, We Fight).
"Music, at the time, was the King's stratagem in ruling. He used it to instil the love of our nation into people's hearts. He also gave encouragement and motivation through his music, like Yim Su [Smiles], a song he composed for the blind."
Music was a big part of King Bhumibol's life and, until the end, it even served as a remedy for his soul and ailing health. From jamming sessions at the palaces, the A.S. Friday royal band allocated to the 16th floor of Siriraj Hospital to play music for the King.
"There wasn't even space for us to play. People would think the King resided in a big fancy room, but it was just an ordinary patient room. We sang songs for him, and I played on a small keyboard. We gave His Majesty hope and courage -- just a little thing we can do after what he's been doing for Thai people for the past 70 years," Pathorn said.
LIGHT THE WORLD
Following the devastating news on Oct 13 that the King had died, the role of music and the A.S. Friday band has shifted for perhaps the final time.
"In every royal composition, His Majesty's soul is there. Once we know his songs, we get to know the late King better, and he will live on forever in our hearts," said Pathorn. "It's my duty to spread His Majesty's work. I'm not old, but we need people to carry on the torch. The torch and the fire were His Majesty's, and he entrusted them to me, his messenger. My job is now to continue lighting this candle flame and spread it as far as I can."
As a tribute to King Rama IX's contribution and legacy in music, Pathorn is partnering with EmQuartier mall to organise "The Royal Music Legacy" event starting next week. The event will see a wide range of activities from talk shows, exhibitions and workshops on the King's music. Highlights of the event include the display of never-before-seen musical instruments that the King gifted to A.S. Friday's band members, as well as unpublished scores of his royal compositions.
"Before, the King would write notes by hand on paper. Later, he began to use a computer. But as there was no software back then, he drew the notes and lines -- one by one -- on the computer," recalled Pathorn who has preserved these priceless artefacts. They will also be exhibited at the event.
It was in 2004 that the King and Pathorn began to revise and correct music notation of the royal compositions. Pathorn would create sheet music on a computer, and the King would later look through and correct any mistakes by hand.
There are 48 royal compositions that have been released to date, and sifting through them took five years as the two could only work together on Saturdays.
"Through the years, His Majesty would constantly revise his songs. Some he made more contemporary. Some he altered as he gained more knowledge on music theory," said Pathorn. "We could say His Majesty was a perfectionist."
All but one song -- Candlelight Blues -- were personally revised by the King. His Majesty didn't get a chance to completely revise his first royal composition as his health began to deteriorate. Pathorn later revised the composition, compiled the entire collection and presented it to the King. These officially revised music sheets will be available at the event so musicians can learn how to play the royal compositions correctly.
The Royal Music Legacy will be held from Nov 29 to Dec 11 at the Quartier Gallery on M Floor of EmQuartier shopping complex.
Assoc Prof Pathorn Srikaranonda. Photo: Jetjaras na Ranong
