Mahori

{{Short description|Classical Thai musical ensemble}} [[File:Large-5d6e38b2567c4.jpg |thumb|Stucco relief found at Khu Bua archaeological site. 650-700 C.E., Dvaravati culture.<ref>{{citation|url=http://rms.msu.ac.th/upload/art_culture/doc/5807011_5526(1).pdf|title=ประวัติความเป็นมา "มโหรี"|lang=th|access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref>]] thumb|''Mahori Khrueang Yai'' thumb|''Mahori Khrueang Si'' The '''''mahori''''' ({{langx|th|มโหรี}}), possibly from Sanskrit मनोहर (''manohara'', meaning "fascinating, attractive, charming, beautiful") + -ई (''-ī'', a feminine suffix), is a form of Thai classical ensemble traditionally played in the royal courts for the purpose of secular entertainment. It combines the xylophones and gong circles (but not the pi, or oboe) of the ''piphat'' with the strings of the ''khruang sai'' ensemble. Originally, the term referred only to a string ensemble, although today it includes both string and percussion. There are three broad types of Mahori: Mahori Khryang Lek, Mahori Khyrang Khu, and Mahori Khyrang Yai, each differentiated by the types of instruments utilized.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.seasite.niu.edu/thai/music/classical/thaiensemble/mahori_ensmeemble.htm|title=Mahori Ensemble|website=www.seasite.niu.edu|access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref> It is comparable to the Cambodian ''mohaori'' ensemble.

== History == ''Mahori'' is a form of Thai classical music that has a long history in Thailand, dating back to at least the Ayutthaya period.<ref>{{cite web |last=Arunrattana |first=Udom |title=Music in Persian and Thai Courts in the Early Ayutthya Period |url=https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/default/files/knowledge-bank-article/music_in_persian_and_thai_courts.pdf |website=UNESCO Silk Roads |access-date=2023-04-11}}</ref>{{rp|6|quote=The Mahori musical ensemble dates back to the Ayutthaya period when it was used for light, soothing music for the nobles of the Royal Court.}} Although it was already a well-established form of music in Thailand during that time, in 1931, Prince Damrong, the author of the History of Thai Music had asserted that the Thai ''mahori'' was of Khmer origin and created by the ancient Khmer and later adopted and elaborated in Thai society.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The mahori ensemble of Ayutthaya|url=https://chapei.jimdofree.com/english/history/mahori-ensemble-of-ayutthaya/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Site de chapei !|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahori Ensemble|url=http://www.seasite.niu.edu/thai/music/classical/thaiensemble/mahori_ensemble.htm|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.seasite.niu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Terry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80WSAgAAQBAJ&q=Prince+Damrong|title=The Garland Handbook of Southeast Asian Music|last2=Williams|first2=Sean|date=2011-03-17|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-90155-4|pages=106|language=en}}</ref> However, historical records indicate that the mahori music "Say Samon" (later called "Sansoen Phra Narai") was already recorded in the Du Royaume de Siam in 1687 by Simon de La Loubère, a French envoy who visited Ayutthaya at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A48403.0001.001/1:6?rgn=div1;submit=Go;subview=detail;type=simple;view=fulltext;q1=Say+Samon |title=A new historical relation of the kingdom of Siam by Monsieur De La Loubere|last=La Loubère |first=Simon de |date=1693 |website=Early English Books Online - University of Michigan |publisher=University of Michigan Library |access-date=6 April 2023 }}</ref> And also, Nicolas Gervaise, a French priest and traveler who had visited Ayutthaya, recorded a Mahori music called "Sout Chai" in the book Histoire Naturelle et Politique du Royaume de Siam in 1688.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gervaise |first=Nicolas |date=1688 |title=Histoire naturelle et politique du Royaume de Siam. … |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_gRTAAAAcAAJ |location=Paris |publisher=de l’Imprimerie de Pierre le Mercier }}</ref>

Initially, only men were permitted to play mahori; however, as its popularity grew, women from royal backgrounds began to play as well. In the Ayuthaya period, women were not permitted to act onstage outside royal service, and women were trained only to play in the mahori. However, King Rama IV removed this restriction and allowed women to act onstage, which caused women's mahori to decline as women increasingly chose to act instead.<ref name=":0" />

Traditionally, the ensemble consisted of four players: the krajappi, a saw sam si, a thone, and a singer.<ref name=":0" />

The Wong Mahori consists of both the string and piphat instruments, often reduced in size to accommodate female performers.<ref name=":0" />

While Thai classical music was somewhat discouraged as being outmoded and backward-looking during Thailand's aggressively nationalistic modernization policies of the mid-twentieth century, the classical arts have benefited recently from increased governmental sponsorship and funding as well as popular interest as expressed in such films as ''Homrong: The Overture'' (2003), a popular fictionalized biography of a famous early 20th century ''ranat ek'' player and composer Luang Pradit Phairao.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Music of Thailand Category:Classical and art music traditions