The Artist King's Birthday
This week is the week
that Thai people celebrate the King’s Birthday. Most of my American friends might not know that His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in Massachusetts on December 5, 1927. His Royal Father was Prince Songkla,
and was a medical student there.
Prince Songkla, the King’s Father was a younger son of King Rama V or King Piya the
Great, who abolished slavery in Thailand over a hundred years ago. The King’s Mother was a commoner, who
took care of her three Royal children so well after the untimely death of her
Royal husband.
The King with
Princess Mother:
The Young Royal
siblings, King Rama VIII, and his Royal sister, Princess Kalayaniwatana:
He was very active in
finding ways to do things better, such as agriculture, engineering, and other
projects that bettered the lives of Thai people. I can remember a few of his projects, such as the Artificial
Rain Project that helped provide water in the drought regions of Thailand,
engineering endeavors that helped divert water from flooded area in and around
Bangkok. He had quite a few
experimental pilot farming projects within the gate of his estate surrounding the Royal Palace right in the City of Bangkok!
For more of His
Majesty information, follow this link
His Majesty became King in 1946, and has
since tirelessly worked and visited Thai people all over the country. In recent years, he has been in ill
health, but has not stopped to provide guidance with his love for the Thai
people. Another thing that connect
me most with His Majesty was that he used to be an avid jazz musician.
When I was in the
Pre-university School in Bangkok, there were occasions that he came and joined
with Chulalongkorn University Students band. His sense of humor and showmanship lifted up the spirits of
students then. I felt privileged
to be an alumnus of Chulalongkorn University even though my time there at the
Liberal Arts Faculty was only four days.
My late husband, who was the bandleader for Thammasat University had the
honor of playing with His Majesty at the University and occasionally at the
Palace Radio Station and with the Royal band.
During my junior high
school days, there was so much time in the afternoon for the morning group of students
in the all-girls school. One of my
activities was Thai Classical music.
I learned Saw U with the Master of Thai Classical music, whose name was
Phraya Phumi Sevin, who was the Chief Musician of King Rama VI. Here is my picture when I still remembered
how to play Saw U.
Any way, the perk for students who endured the strict Master was to play at the Royal Radio Station at
Dusit Palace!! When there were occasions like the Prince or Princess’ birthday, the teacher would compose Thai
Classical songs to wish them Happy Birthday. Sometime, we got to see the Prince came out to play on the
other side of the gate at his residential Palace. Another perk was after the performance that was broadcast on
radio, we got to eat a simple but delicious meal. My favorite was the huge yellow banana that came with
the dessert! That was one of my
childhood amazement: to eat a banana from the Palace!!
While I was playing
there at the radio station, little did I know that my future love of my life was there in
the next room, and fate would bring us together one day, I was just a little
kid then.…
Did I mention that the
King was an avid jazz musician and songwriter? Here is one of my favorites from his song collection that I used to sing a
lot---H.M. Blue
We’
got the Hungry Men’s Blues.
You’ll
be hungry too, if you’re in this band.
Don’t
you think that our music is grand?
We’ve
got the Hungry Men’s Blues.
You’ve
eaten now all of you.
We’d
like to eat with you too,
That’s
why we’ve got the H.M. Blue.
Although the relic was
composed by Prince Chakrapan, it was His Majesty’s idea during the JAM session
while he was in Swizerland.
The name H.M. Blues was thought first as His Majesty Blues, but actually
it is “Hungry Man” Blues. The
story was that as a musician, he played long and hard the music in the band for
the entertainment of his palace staff.
While all the royal court’s servants were enjoying eating and music, the
jazz musicians were hungry, and thus came the song “Hungry Man Blues” (Credit
story to The Royal Music Book from which the music for H.M. Blues as shown
below is taken).
Also, each year, to
celebrate His Majesty birthday, I will show off the medals I received during the time of being Civil Servant at Thammasat University. There are the Crown medal and the White Elephant medal. I think the White Elephant medal, which
was received later has higher honor.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay respect
to the King and wish him Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!!!
Me and Thai Costume for this auspicious occasion!
Hello friends. Your comments are appreciated. :)
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