1 5. Performing Arts, Folk plays, Musical Instruments and Folk Songs Mon Music Instruments Wong Phipapat Mon is a band accompanied Mon people who migrated to Thailand. It consists of instruments influenced by Mon, namely, Pi Mon (oboe), Khong Mon (bass gongs hung in a nearly full circular track), Taphon Mon (secondary beat), Poeng Mang Khok and Khong Wong. There are three types of Wong Phipapat Mon: Wong Piphat Mon Khrueang Khu is arranged by adding Ranat Thum and Khong Mon Wong Lek to Piphat Mon Khrueang Ha. Wong Piphat Mon Khrueang Yai is arranged by adding Ranat Ek Lek and Ranat Thum Lek to Piphat Mon Khrueang Khu. Wong Piphat Mon Khrueang Ha consists of Ranat ek (treble xylophone), Pi Mon (bass oboe), Khong Mon Wong Yai (bass gongs hung in a nearly full circular track), Taphon Mon (secondary beat), Poengmang Khok (Mon drums set in cage-shaped frame), as well as Ching, Chap and Mong (main beats). 2 Wong Piphat Mon Khrueang Ha Wong Piphat Mon has the music instruments which can be compared to Wong Piphat Thai Khrueang Ha as follows: 1. Pi Mon is a bass oboe with horn-shaped end. It is similar to Pi Chawa but bigger. Lamphong or the mouth of Pi Mon is made from brass to soften its sound. 2.Ranat Ek Mon has a similar look to the Ranat Ek Thai. 3. Khong Wong is a gong-circle instrument. The frame of Khong Wong is typically carved and decorated lavishly in gold paint and glass inlay. On the left side of players, the image of a half-man, half-bird figure is carved on the frame. 3 4. Taphon Mon has a similar look to the Taphon Thai but it is bigger. 5. Perng Mang, a drums set in cage-shaped frame. Perng Mang has a set of 7 perng mang drums. The lowest pitch drum is hung on the furthest left and the highest pitch drum is hung on the furthest right. It is called Perng Mang Kok. Folk Plays Tossing Saba game During Songkran festival, 5 - 60 years ago, Mon people enjoyed an ancient game called Tossing Saba. Tossing Saba game was considered as the only one opportunity for young men and women to meet up. That was because most of them were farmers who had to engage with transplanting rice seedlings in rainy season and harvesting it in winter. They then finished all their works when summer started. In summer, it was the time for Mon people to rest and 4 enjoy with cheerful activities, especially Songkran festival. Therefore, tossing Saba game certainly brought them to together. The game normally took place in tableland which was the space under the house or the courtyard in front of the house. They needed to adjust or clean the selected place to be suitable for tossing Saba. As the space under the house was ground, they then could adjust the surface of the space by using a wooden tamp to hit the ground and poured water onto the ground. After that, they could use big whisky bottles to smoothen the ground with the area of 4 x 5 meters and partitioned the area with boards. Next, they put two rows of chairs for men on one side and women on the other. The place would be decorated creatively by coconut leaves and bunches of Lepisanthes rubiginosa. Equipment for Playing was Saba made into round-shaped. The Saba of male side was made from wood while the female’s was smaller and made from ivory. There were about 8-9 pairs of players depending on the length of the place. Both male and female players dressed up with beautiful traditional clothes. Importantly, the rules mentioned that men and women who lived in the same villages were not allowed to play together and alcohol was strictly forbidden. When wearing traditional dress, they had to behave properly. To play, the male and female players sit in the opposite row. The one who is at the head of tableland sets Saba up and the one who is at the end of the tableland toss the Saba first. If any player knocks down the Saba of the opposite side with correct positions, he is supposed to get 1 town. On the contrary, if any player performs with a wrong position, it depends on the consideration of the opposite side whether they allow that player to replay or to cut him off. If that player is cut off, he has to move to the head of tableland and set up Saba for others to knock it down. If that player performs a wrong position again, he may probably be ordered to sing, dance or act in order to make the game more fun. Annual Carnival Songkran Festival for Thai Raman- Mon consists of Fish Parade (for fish releasing), Chong- O Tarn Parade, Mon Naga Ordination Parade and Khao chae Parade. In addition, there are cultural performances by local people such as Phi Kra Dong Play, Mon Tossing Saba and pouring water to pay respect to the seniors. 5 .