“Ma Mia” Themes for Brass Quintet

Abstract

This creative musical research aims to arrange selected melodic themes from the song "Ma Mia" for brass quintet performance. Specific melodic passages from "Ma Mia" were selected for presentation, as the original work functions as a folk ballad narrative, which has been adapted into an instrumental chamber music format. This cross -cultural arrangement contributes to expanding the brass quintet repertoire while promoting Lanna cultural heritage to international audiences. The study demonstrates that themes d erived from folk ballads can be successfully adapted for Western chamber ensembles while maintaining cultural authenticity, provided that arrangers make deliberate decisions regarding which musical elements constitute the core identity that must be preserv ed, and which elements may be modified to suit the new format The arrangement employs a free-form approach that integrates Lanna aesthetic principles with Western brass quintet techniques. Key strategies include conceptualizing a creative work that harmoniously blends Lanna and Western musical cultures while preserving the authenticity of the original composition. The piece is primarily in the key of A minor. The opening section serves as an introduction, emulating the narrative storytelling tradition characteristic of Lanna folk songs ( folk song kham mueang ), utilizi ng time signatures of 3/4, 4/4, and 2/4 to accommodate the melodic contours of the song. The low brass instruments, particularly the tuba, function as harmonic foundation and accompaniment. The trumpet carries the principal melody, alternating and interweaving with the trombone in certain melodic passages, alongside other instruments to create timbral diversity and musical flow while maintaining fidelity to the original melody