Jon Silpayamanant – cellist, composer, multi-instrumentalist

About:

Loy Krathong is a popular ramwong dance song composed by Thai composer Eua Sunthornsanan with lyrics by Thai poet and writer Kaew Atchariyakul.

Saw Peep Pan-Asian Ensemble first performed their version of the Loy Krathong song at the 4th Annual Call to Unity Peace Concert hosted by Interfaith Paths to Peace on 2019 February 9. Jon plays the phin and sings in Thai (with some of the other members) while the rest of the ensemble perform on flute, saw duang, oud, ching, and percussion.

Lyrics:

วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง
น้ำก็นองเต็มตลิ่ง
เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง
สนุกกันจริงวันลอยกระทง
ลอย ลอย กระทง
ลอย ลอย กระทง
ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว
ขอเชิญน้องแก้ว
ออกมารำวง
รำวงวันลอยกระทง
รำวงวันลอยกระทง
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ

On the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month,
The waters overflows the riverbanks.
We men and women
Celebrate on Loy Krathong Day.
Float, float banana leaf boats; float, float banana leaf boats!
After we float our Krathongs,
Come my beloved, to dance the Ramwong.
Dance Ramwong on Loy Krathong Day,
Dance Ramwong on Loy Krathong Day—
May the merit we make bring happiness to our hearts.
May the merit we make bring happiness to our hearts.

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PAST PERFORMANCES (selected)

2025

• Feb 08 – Louisville, KY: Americana World Community Center | Lunar New Year Celebration by Crane House and Louisville Orchestra. Saw Peep Pan Asian Ensemble

2019

• May 26 – New Albany, IN: Ogle Center | Visions of Southeast Asian Music. Saw Peep Pan-Asian Ensemble
• Feb 09 – Louisville, KY: St. Paul United Methodist Church | 4th Annual Call to Unity Peace Concert by Interfaith Paths to Peace. Saw Peep Pan Asian Ensemble