A Comparative Study of Thai Molam and Chinese Molun Performing Arts

Abstract

This dissertation aims are 1) Compare the historical development process of Thai “Molam” and Chinese “Molun” performing arts. 2) Compare the elements of Thai “Molam” and Chinese “Molun” performing arts. And 3) Compare the trend of Thai “Molam” and Chinese “Molun” performing arts. And employed the research methodology of musicology. The data were collected based on the fieldwork from Artists, Scholar and Professors, etc.

The results of this dissertation are as follows: 1) The two arts are produced in the folk and reflect the local singing style of the local ordinary people. Almost everyone know about Thai Molam. And the King of Thailand like it very much. It is already deeply rooted in the local people. Chinese molun has a general status in Guangxi, China. And the local young people rarely know the molun. Only the age of some 50 know it. 2) The elements of the two have many similarities and differences. The performance process and content, Text, Tone and accompaniment, Language, Phrase and rhyming, Beats and melody, etc. For example, phrase and rhyming. There is no limit to the length of the phrase; every phrase has rhyming. There are three to fifteen words in Thai molam's phrase, and Chinese molun's phrase is only five words or seven words. 3) Because Thai Molam can adapt to the changes of the times, It is still the favorite art of the people in northeastern Thailand. The future of Chinese molun should be circulated in Jingxi and Debao in Guangxi. But it is still in its infancy, and the road to reform and development is still very long.

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