Phatthalung Festivals and Events

Festivals and Events

The Nang Talung Troop

A single troop is called a rong (literally, "one structure"). It is composed of the puppeteer and members of his troop. The number of people varies from troop to troop. The most important and indispensable are the one or two people who pass the puppets to the puppeteer. There is also one person who plays the tap (small drum), one person who plays the glong (drums), one person who plays the pi (oboe), one person who plays the mong (gong), and one person who plays the ching (cymbals), and one person who plays the krap (wood blocks). Some troops also have a mo sayasat (a person adept at casting spells).

In addition to playing music, the members of the troop also have the task of transporting the musical instruments when they travel to perform. Each person is responsible for their own instrument.

The Puppets

Every Nang Talung troop has a different number of puppets. There are usually about 100-300 puppets that must be used. These include hermits, Phra Isuan (Indra), narrator, local prince, giants/ogres, humans, clowns, thieves, trees, vehicles, weapons, etc., and also assorted animals from literary works, such as the lion, the tiger, Garuda, and the swan.
Nang Talung puppets are between 1-2 feet tall and are usually made from cow hide or buffalo hide. Patterns are cut into the leather and are painted very beautiful colors.

Music of Nang Talung

The musical instruments of Nang Talung that are important and can not be omitted are as follows.
1. One glong (drum) which is covered with leather at both ends and is about 8-10 inches wide, 10-12 inches long, with the end being smaller than the middle.
2. Two tap (small drum) which are covered with very fine leather, such as langur (kind of monkey) skin. The two tap are a little different in size in order to produce different pitches.
3. One pair of mong (gong), one with a high pitch and one with a lower pitch. Each mong is hung inside a wooden frame. The two mong are made from bronze or brass.

4. One pair of ching (cymbals).
5. One pi (oboe).

Some troops also have a so-u (low pitched two stringed fiddle), so-duong (middle pitched two stringed fiddle), or klui (Thai bamboo recorder).
Nowadays, a Nang Talung troop is composed of many members and more music than in the past because each troop is trying to modernize the Nang Talung and make their group unique among the troops. So they integrate Western instruments such as: a drum set, melodica, or guitar.
The fact is that integrating Western instruments into the performance unfortunately causes the original identity of Nang Talung to be swallowed up.
In addition there are some other components.

Manorah

Manorah is a folk dance in the southern part of Thailand. It is a very beautiful dance. I am really like it because I think it is very amazing. Nowadays it is hard to find the place to see it, there are a few persons who can perform it. If you come to the south may be you can see it. We believe Manorah is a holy performance, before someone who wants to be a Manorah performer he/she has to have a Yok Kru ceremony or pay homage to teacher. When the teacher eccept him/her, he/she will be the Manorah performer.

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