Three Towers Shrine Overture

Three Towers Shrine Overture for wind orchestra is the depiction of the life, energy and beauty of Lopburi Province, the historical province in the central region of Thailand. The central figure of this composition is based on the both provincial landmark and symbol, Phra Prang Sam Yot (English: Three Towers Shrine, Thai: พระปรางค์สามยอด) which is the shrine built in the 13th century. This overture has also featured musical quotation from Thai folk-tune that is associated to the province which are Ra-bum Lopburi (English: Lopburi Dance, Thai: ระบำลพบุรี—Thai folk-dance melody originated from this province) and Ling Kub Sua (English: Monkey and Tiger, Thai: ลิงกับเสือ—Monkeys are easily to be found around this shrine (This tune is more commonly known as Kang Kao Kin Kluay (English: Bat eats Banana, Thai: ค้างคาวกินกล้วย))

The form of the overture consists of the introduction–fast–slow–fast. The introduction starts with the Three Towers Shrine’s motif (represented by the three-notes-motif which would appear throughout the piece), creating the spacious and the antiquity of the shrine. The audience will hear the glimpse of the Ra-bum Lopburi that will gradually lead into the fanfare based on this tune.

The fast section consists of three melodies: the upbeat energetic melody, Thai style melody and Thai folk-tune Ling Kub Sua. The end of the fast section features the folk-tune written in a style that would depict the image of the festive event and party before leading into the slow section, the nocturne to the beautiful night.

The transition from the slow section to the fast section is the brief development from the melody presented in the piece. They are presented through various compositional techniques, for instance, Fugal writing and thematic transformation. The end of the piece is the recapitulation from the former fast section that leads into the grand closing of the piece with the magnificent feeling.

Three Towers Shrine Overture is commissioned by Apiwat Suriyos and TRU Symphonic Band (Lopburi, Thailand)