When pianist Natchar Pancharoen gives a concert, it is a special treat for her fans, and they can expect as much at her next show, "Piano Recital of Thai Traditional Music", scheduled March 8 at 7pm and on March 10 at 4pm at the Recital Hall of Chulalongkorn University's Art and Culture Building.
It's a much-awaited event as Natchar, who is a lecturer at the university's Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, has devoted most of her recent time to writing academic works. She made a stage appearance early last year _ after absent nearly 30 years from the music scene _ to perform at a concert to pay tribute to her piano master, Col Choochart Pitaksakorn, after the latter was declared a national artist.
The forthcoming performance is a sequel of last year's for which she had little time to prepare. Last year's music tribute was a great success in a way in that it inspired Natchar to open a piano school at her residence where also taught is Thai traditional music. Her students are skilled pianists who are also enthusiastic abut the Thai classical music genre. They will give a debut performance on March 11 at 4pm, following a seminar on piano solo and Thai traditional music as a conclusion to the extraordinary musical event.
The repertoire in the recitals includes immortal pieces of Thai music including Phaya Sok, Som Song Saeng, Sarathee, Nok Khamin, Lao Paen, Sai Yok among others. They are arrangements by Col Choochart and Sumitra Sucharitkul, a prominent pianist in the court of King Vajiravudh and Natchar's other piano instructor who pioneered the playing of Thai classical songs on piano in Thailand in the 1920s.
Vocalists include Prapod Assavavirulhakarn, Dusadee Swangviboonpong, Uapong Jaturatamrong, and others. Percussion will be provided by Anant Narkkong, Piyanut Narkkong Sakultanark and Asdavuth Sagarik.
Programme notes and an archive of articles by Prof Dr Poonpit Amatyakul and Natchar herself, are noteworthy historical document for students and Thai music enthusiasts.
Admission is free of charge.
