Page 63 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE Vol 3

like this. It’s like our hard work is being recognized and rewarded.”The concert with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) was held at the Music Auditorium at Mahidol University’s College of Music in August. Ms Tapalin and some 75 musicians of the TPO had practised for months. But the significance of the concert was not in its demonstration of practice or musicianship; it was about the collaboration between musicians and composer and the complex art of interpreting the music.Far from Home was composed by Narong Prangcharoen for solo cello. When Ms Tapalin and the TPO expressed a wish to play the song for a concert, the musicians and composer agreed the piece had to be readapted for orchestra. Mr Narong, who works and lives in the US when not globetrotting for performances and concerts, had to discuss with Ms Tapalin by Facebook, email and phone how the music would be played and how she understood and felt about it.“Classical music is good in that it lets listeners interpret,” said Ms Tapalin, known as Zoy to family and friends. “There is no caption to tell people what to think. It’s hard to explain how you feel or should feel about music. I just know that you shouldn’t be confined or dictate to yourself how to feel towards any work of art. After all, feelings shouldn’t be premeditated and must be spontaneous.”Although the musicians are playing notes written by the composer, “the sound and technique are my own style”, she said. “But Ajarn Narong will check that his sound and meaning remain apparent in the music.”Ms Tapalin interpreted the song as homesickness about Thailand and felt it should contain a distinctly Thai‘Classical music is good in that itlets listeners interpret. There is no caption to tell people what to think’sound, now reflected through the saw u (traditional Thai fiddle). She discussed it with Mr Narong, who shared her sentiment.Cello is not a familiar musical instrument in Thailand, where pianos and violins are more popular among classical musicians. Ms Tapalin became a cellist somewhat by accident. As a daughter of notable classical music pedagogue Associate Professor Sugree Charoensook, though, Ms Tapalin grew up watching her parents play music.“My father never forced me to become a musician. He just wanted to make sure music and playing music was a part of our life, so we learned how to play.”Ms Tapalin learned piano when she was five, while her two siblings played violin and viola. In school she played flute and was also interested in drums. One day a classical troupe at the school needed a cellist, and her father simply said, “Maybe you should learn to play cello.”Ms Tapalin later pursued a master’sElite+ 61