Wearing a denim suit, rock'n'roll-style T-shirt and a black and red checkered hat, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, patron of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO), enthusiastically and gracefully monitored a rehearsal of the recent "Four Royal Orchestral Suites For His Majesty King Rama X" concert. In fact, she diligently monitored every rehearsal of the orchestra in preparation for this historic event.
Greeting His Majesty the King upon his arrival at the National Theatre is Harald Link, chairman of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation)
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya with the committee of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Royal Household Bureau)
As the producer of this special concert, to ensure perfection, the Princess spent several hours every day at each of the five rehearsals examining every detail and providing advice wherever necessary.
"Softer, softer … go back to C. Be careful," the Princess guided the RBSO during one of the rehearsals. "I did not hear the violin. And the cellos should sound softer and softer."
On the auspicious occasion of the coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua this year, the RBSO performed the concert at the National Theatre last month. Their Majesties the King and Queen together with HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Krom Luang Ratchasarinee Siripatchara Maha Watchara Ratchathida graciously attended the concert.
After only a few years as the patron of the long-standing RBSO, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya has proven extraordinarily talented when it comes to music composition.
Prior to the first day of the concert, the Princess delivered this speech:
"It is very clear in my memories up until today, my major inspiration is my grandfather, His Majesty King Rama IX, whose musical works and talents in jazz and classical music are respected worldwide. His passionate love of music was passed on to Your Majesty and all Royal Family members of the Chakri Dynasty.
"I grew up surrounded by music. I have learned music all my life and I love it. I greatly appreciate the myriad benefits of music; music makes everyone happy. It is soft and gentle on our ears and mirrors art, culture and time-honoured traditions. I am always grateful to my grandfather who inspired the Thai people to love music and join hands to forever conserve and develop this field of the arts and recognise it as priceless national heritage."
During one of the recent rehearsals, Life had the privilege to conduct an exclusive interview with the Princess about her inspirations and preparations for the concert.
Your Royal Highness, what are your inspirations for composing four pieces for this concert? What is outstanding about each composition?
All four compositions have something in common -- they are all being used in my fashion shows, for one thing, but they also combine musical basics, classical sounds and modern techniques. Each year, different clusters and techniques were applied. For the first year, Lost In Mystical Garden was a challenge because it was the beginning of a new work. But I wanted to challenge myself to do it because I have the ability to compose songs which no one has ever heard before. Although music has always been a part of my life and I have such fond memories of playing music with my grandparents, composing is a whole different challenge. This composition was the beginning; it was an exhausting uphill hike, not a rose-petal-strewn path. Now, in 2019, the composition is more colourful and subtle, reflecting how I have grown and understand music better.
In celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, the 'Four Royal Orchestral Suites For His Majesty King Rama X' concert took place last month at the National Theatre. (Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The first year's composition, Lost In Mystical Garden, was inspired by the Versailles gardens. I saw the gardens in the morning and in the evening with sounds of clocks and sparkling chandeliers in the palace's mirror rooms. However, I did not focus on the wealth of Versailles Palace but rather, I emphasised a small royal mansion, gardens and the cottage of Marie Antoinette, art, the impressionist Rodin Garden, nature, classical music and rock'n'roll. All these four years' [compositions] clearly combine string and electronic instruments. In the first year, woodwind instruments and flutes were the focal point.
The second year's composition is a love story without a happy ending. The song is titled Serenity, which has prominent lyrics and sounds of harps. The duel of cellos and violins acting as a metaphor for "him and her" and vocals from a large choir makes you feel the music on a personal level.
The third year was so very challenging and fun. The composition is called The Story About Horse, Helen, Henry, which mixes the atmosphere during World War I and World War II.
World War I was the last period of real cavalry officers. An injured cavalry officer met and fell in love with a woman farmer. After going to war, he exchanged letters with her. He wrote the letters by hand and she wrote with a typewriter. You will hear the sounds of a typewriter, changing the line, pulling the paper, and the paper jamming. I rearrange notes for cellos to be more rock'n'roll and produce the sounds like horses walking; horses are my favourite animals. The music was also influenced by the elegant music of Mozart and Chopin.
The fourth year's composition is Abode Of Metamorphosis. It tells stories of trees, technology and space. The inspiration was my visit to a science exhibition. Classical music is used to depict the future world, which is beautiful and has AI [artificial intelligence] woven together with human beings. It is the sound of the universe.
Could you please tell us about the musical instrument you created and also used in the concert?
This original one is called Reform. It is inspired by momentum tools and bicycle wheels which look like a galaxy. It is a violin and guitar which have a duel with a separately installed piano.
Your Royal Highness, please share with us the process to write these compositions? How long did it take for each of them?
It took at least seven months, including recording time. I composed these songs on the piano without having anyone to teach them to. I have learned from experience and sought advice from musicians, assistants and composers. The works were mostly done in France. I like composers like Mozart and Chopin and Ludovico Einaudi, an Italian.
I have been to numerous concerts to learn about culture and orchestral arrangements. Back to Reform, I wanted something different, so I tried mixing bicycles with pianos from slow rhythms to guitar movements. They move like orbits in space.
For the November concert, the four compositions were shortened and rearranged to be flexible and refined.
Please tell us about preparations for the concert?
It took one year. I am pretty tired. I monitor every rehearsal myself.
At the recent "Four Royal Orchestral Suites For His Majesty King Rama X" concert, the four songs I mentioned were played plus King Rama IX's song Alexandra.
SPECIAL GUEST MUSICIANS FROM AUSTRIA
On this occasion, the RBSO Foundation has collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from Austria by inviting three special guest musicians from world-renowned orchestras: Ladislav Papp (harp), Robert Nagy (cello) and Daniel Froschauer (guest concertmaster).
Harpist Ladislav Papp said: "This is absolutely a new experience for me. It is challenging. This part for harp is well written. It is the first time for me to perform with modern instruments like electric guitars."
Daniel Froschauer said: "It was very kind of the Princess to approach us around Easter time and invite us to perform. It's difficult to perform truly modern rhythms. Her compositions are outstanding for rhythms, melodies and harmony. They are a challenge. The RBSO can be the Asean band."
Cellist Robert Nagy added: "It was a kind of adventure with new instruments. This kind of mixing rhythms, melodies and harmony was exciting. We are so lucky we have the same aim."
HRH Princess Sirivannavari is known for her talents, and music is one of them. The gifted Princess is keen on both traditional Thai and classical music as she has been studying music since she was young. She is currently the patron of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO). She has composed songs for the RBSO to play at the fashion shows of her brand SIRIVANNAVARI since 2016.
