Creative Musical Research in Recording Technology: Literature of Seven Upper Southern Provincial Songs, Performed by Vocalist and Wind Symphony

Abstract

This research investigates the application of contemporary recording technology in the arrangement and recording of provincial songs from the seven provinces of Upper Southern Thailand: Krabi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, and Surat Thani. The project employed a large wind symphony recorded live as a full ensemble, while lead and choral vocals were captured separately and refined through digital editing. The study is grounded in the view that recording is not merely a technical tool, but a site of creative research in which musical heritage can be preserved, represented, and made meaningful for contemporary audiences. It proposes an approach to spatial design and sonic balance between the musical ensemble and the voice that remains faithful to the cultural role of provincial songs, emphasizing lyrical clarity while retaining the sonic power and formal character of the march idiom. The study synthesizes systematic strategies for sectional orchestration, microphone placement, and soundstage design. The findings suggest that recording local repertoire requires the integration of recording technology, aesthetics, and cultural meaning rather than a sole emphasis on technical fidelity. The study therefore offers a systematic framework for wind ensemble recording in the context of Thai provincial songs and contributes to current discussions of preservation, innovation, and creative musical research in the digital era.