sat 2 feb 2019 03:00 hrs
The Source of Sound involves the material, the movement and the vibration of which music arises.
Episode 40 Recitation
Recitation, or the loudly reciting of texts and prayers is a characteristic sound of Buddhism. Recitation has its own rhythm and melody and differs a lot from ordinary speaking or reading out. It requires a good voice and a powerful memory. In Buddhism, it differs per school how one recites, the language one uses and the region where one is located. In this Source of Sound it’s about the Theravada Buddhism in northern Thailand, where annually around the Loy Krathong festival the stories that are part of the Phra Wesandon cycle are recited for a whole day in every temple by the monks who are known for their voice and power of recitation. The stories they tell are about the life of the Buddha before he reached enlightenment and they contain a lot of drama and involvements. In northern Thailand a special style of recitation has been developed for this occasion. A style which is used in this Source of Sound by the blind Pan Yonan to tell the story of Massi, the wife of Phra Wesandon in his last life, before he became the Buddha.
Doi Suthep mural painting
Playlist
1. Recitation Wat Nongsaling 1’28
Rec: Fred Gales
© Sound Reporters
2. Massi 54’04
Samanenrak Pan Yonan
Rec: Fred Gales
© Sound Reporters
3 Wat Doi Suthep1’58
CD Lanna Thai
, Pan Records 2045 CD, track 15
