JOE MATHAWAPHAN
Three
Scenes
of
the
Crashing
Waves
Instrumentation Symphonic Band
Duration >4'00"
Three Scenes of the Crashing Waves (2025) is a reimagination of the traditional Thai melody "Kruen Krathop Fang [Waves Crashing on the Shore]", originally composed by H.M. King Prajadhipok in 1918 as part of a suite for his play "Wiwah Phra Samut (Neptune's Bride)." The piece unfolds in three continuous movements, each depicting the crashing waves at a different time of the day:
I. Dawn
The waves rise with vitality, fueled by morning sunlight and wind, accompanied by the bold sound of a naval fanfare. The sea awakens, heralding the arrival of a new day.
II. Dusk
As the day fades, the sky glows in warm, twilight amber, its reflection shimmering on the water. The waves move gracefully, carrying the warmth of the setting sun, before gradually easing into the calm of night.
III. Night
The scene is enveloped in dark tranquility as night descends. The waves move gently, blending with the cool moonlight and distant stars, creating a peaceful stillness in the quiet of the night.
The music then returns to Dawn, signalling the start of a new cycle.
The piece offers flexibility in both ending and duration, designed to loop and depict the daily cycle. Each
movement lasts around a minute and includes two brackets. The "Continue" bracket leads to the next
movement, with the third looping back to the start. Each movement also has a distinct "Ending" bracket to conclude the piece.
With three possible endings, the ensemble may choose one, considering the overall flow of the concert
programme. The first episode offers the strongest ending, the third a peaceful conclusion, and the second
falls in between.
In the performance, all three movements are played first in sequence, using the "Continue" brackets to loop back to the beginning. The music continues until the chosen ending movement, where the "Ending" bracket is used instead of the "Continue" bracket to finish the piece.