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DNA of Music: Identifying Relationships among Different Versions of the Composition Sadhukarn from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia Using Multivariate Statistics

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  • Sumetus Eambangyung

    (Institut für Musik, Medien- und Sprechwissenschaften (IMMS) Abteilung Musikwissenschaft, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Gretel Schwörer-Kohl

    (Institut für Musik, Medien- und Sprechwissenschaften (IMMS) Abteilung Musikwissenschaft, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Witoon Purahong

    (Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany)

Abstract

Sadhukarn, a sacred music composition performed ritually to salute and invite divine powers to open a ceremony or feast, is played in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Different countries have unique versions, arranged based on musicians’ skills and en vogue styles. This study presents the results of multivariate statistical analyses of 26 different versions of Sadhukarn main melodies using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and cluster analysis. The objective was to identify the optimal number of parameters for identifying the origin and relationships among Sadhukarn versions, including rhyme structures, pillar tone, rhythmic and melodic patterns, intervals, pitches, and combinations of these parameters. The data were analyzed using both full and normalized datasets (32 phrases) to avoid biases due to differences in phrases among versions. Overall, the combination of six parameters is the best approach for data analysis in both full and normalized datasets. The analysis of the ‘full version’ shows the separation of Sadhukarn versions from different countries of origin, while the analysis of the ‘normalized version’ reveals the rhyme structure, rhythmic structure, and pitch as crucial parameters for identifying Sadhukarn versions. We conclude that multivariate statistics are powerful tools for identifying relationships among different versions of Sadhukarn compositions from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and within the same countries of origin.

Suggested Citation

  • Sumetus Eambangyung & Gretel Schwörer-Kohl & Witoon Purahong, 2024. "DNA of Music: Identifying Relationships among Different Versions of the Composition Sadhukarn from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia Using Multivariate Statistics," Data, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdataj:v:9:y:2024:i:4:p:50-:d:1367605
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patrick Georges & Aylin Seckin, 2022. "Music information visualization and classical composers discovery: an application of network graphs, multidimensional scaling, and support vector machines," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(5), pages 2277-2311, May.
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