There are several kinds of rhythmic instruments used in Thai music, the principal being in the drum class. Thailand's Ekkarat Sub-district of Pa Mok District in Ang Thong Province is famous for drum making, selling its products around the country and overseas. And, as you enter this sub-district community, you immediately notice piles of wood and samples of drum types along the way.
Ekkarat villagers have made a living manufacturing drums over a long period, and an old man, working on a drum in a house full of hides and wood told us he receives regular orders from near and far. The bestseller, he claims, is the Poeng Mang drum, which forms part of a set of Burmese hand drums. Yet this old man is skilled at making all kinds of drums including the long drum, Timpani, Taphon (two-sided drum with stand), Indian drum, Japanese drum and others used in Thai classical drama and theater.
Softwood, mainly from the silk tree or rain tree, is the most important raw material for making drums. Other raw materials include cow and buffalo hides, chisels, a turner and a base.
To make the instrument the craftsman first shapes a piece of wood to the size of the drum, places it on the base and turns it until it becomes smooth. The wood is placed in hot water for around and hour then smoothed with sandpaper. Cow or buffalo hides, which have been double-soaked in water to make them soft and pliable, are applied to the drum. Then oil is smeared on, as the last stage, to beautify the instrument.
"The most difficult drum to make," the old man said, "is the Taphon Mon used in Likay folk theater and Khon masked drama staged at funeral ceremonies. It is difficult to produce the sound effect of 'Pa Theng Pa Theng.'The Taphon Mon is regarded as 'the master' and each year a ceremony takes place to pay homage to this 'master' with offerings such as incense sticks, candles and flowers."
The old man, whom we called "Uncle," admitted that the drum business today is not as brisk as in the past, because "people have turned to hi-tech instruments."
However, Ekkarat villagers are still engaged in drum making, an art passed on from their ancestors. They take pride in an occupation that reflects folk wisdom and culture and an attempt is underway to increase exports of Japanese-style drums manufactured by Ekkarat villagers. With more promising export prospects the lot of the villagers would undoubtedly improve and cease to be a concern to Ekkarat. However, a successful drum-making export market surely requires the full support of the Thai people.
