Sansoen Phra Barami

Sansoen Phra Barami
English: Glorify His Prestige
สรรเสริญพระบารมี
	Sheet music of "Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami" in postcard, early 20th century
	Royal anthem of Thailand
Lyrics	Narisara Nuwattiwong and King Vajiravudh, 1913
Music	Pyotr Shchurovsky, 1888
Adopted	1888 (unofficial lyrics); 1913 (official lyrics)
Relinquished	1932 (as National Anthem)
Preceded by	"Bulan Loi Luean"
Succeeded by	"Phleng Chat Siam" (as National Anthem)
Audio sample
	U.S. Navy Band instrumental version file; help;

"Sansoen Phra Barami" (Thai: สรรเสริญพระบารมี, pronounced [sǎn.sɤ̌ːn pʰráʔ bāː.rā.mīː]; transl. "Glorify His Prestige") is the current royal anthem of Thailand. It was a de facto national anthem of Siam before 1932.

History

Boosra Mahin Theater Group, a Siamese theater group that performed and recorded the royal anthem, "Sansoen Phra Barami", in Berlin, Germany in 1900

1900 instrumental version

First sound recordings of "Sansoen Phra Barami" in phonograph cylinder, performed by the Boosra Mahin theater group, who visited Berlin, Germany, in 1900

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The first song to be used as royal anthem and de facto national anthem of Siam/Thailand appeared in the reign of King Mongkut of Rattanakosin Kingdom. In 1851, two former British military officers named Captain Impey and Lieutenant Thomas George Knox served with the Siamese Army. They trained the troops of King Mongkut and the Second King Pinklao with British military tradition. So, they adopted the anthem "God Save the King" as honor music for the king of Siam. Phraya Srisunthonwohan (Noi Āchāryānkura) wrote Thai lyrics for this anthem later and named it as "Chom Rat Chong Charoen", which means "long live the great king".

In 1871, King Chulalongkorn visited Singapore and Batavia (now Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies; it appeared that Siam used the same anthem with Great Britain, who ruled over Singapore at that time. It was necessary that Siam must have a new unique tune for using as the royal anthem and de facto national anthem. A group of Siamese traditional musicians had selected a Thai song named "Bulan Loi Luean" (The Floating Moon on the Sky) which was the royal composition of King Rama II for use as the new anthem. King Chulalongkorn later ordered Christopher Hewetson,^[1] a Dutch bandmaster who served in the Royal Siamese Army, to arrange the song in western style for performing by the military band. According to a research of Sugree Charoensuk, an associate professor from Mahidol University, the melody of this anthem may be the same tune with another anthem named "Sansoen Sua Pa" which had been used as the anthem of the Wild Tiger Corps since 1911.^[2]

History about the royal anthem of Siam after 1871 are ambiguous, and evidence is rare to find. An evidence of music composition of the royal anthem of Siam appeared again in 1888 when a sheet music of the Siamese national anthem, arranged by the Russian composer Pyotr Schurovsky, was printed in Russia. The main melody of the song in that sheet music is the same tune of "Sansoen Phra Barami" in present time. According to a research of Sugree Charoensook, Pyotr Shchurovsky was the composer of the music of "Sansoen Phra Barami",^[3] to serve as Siam's national anthem.^[4] Prince Narisara Nuvadtivong later composed various lyrics of "Sansoen Phra Barami" for using in the Royal Siamese Army, in all Siamese schools and in Siamese traditional music bands. Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse also composed a version of lyrics for used in the Royal Siamese Navy. In 1913, King Vajiravudh decided to relinquish all lyrics of "Sansoen Phra Barami" that mentioned before and revised it to current version only.

"Sansoen Phra Barami" was the de facto national anthem of Siam from 1888 until 1932, when it was replaced by "Phleng Chat Siam". It is still used as the royal anthem of Thailand today.

In 1940, the Thai government under the administration of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued the 8th Thai cultural mandate, concerning the lyrics of "Sansoen Phra Barami", which were shortened and the word "Siam" replaced with "Thai" (see below). After the end of World War II, these lyrics were quietly abandoned due its unpopularity, and reverted to the version that revised by King Vajiravudh in 1913.

The sound recording of "Sansoen Phra Barami" was recorded for the first time ever on the Edison wax cylinder by Carl Stumpf, an ethnomusicologist from the University of Berlin. In that recording, the anthem was performed by Boosra Mahin Theater Group, a Siamese theater group visiting Berlin in 1900.

Usage of the anthem

The royal anthem is performed during state occasions, as well as when a high-ranking member of the royal family is present for a function. In addition, the royal anthem is still played before the beginning of each film in movie theatres, as well as before the commencement of the first act in plays, musicals, concerts, and most other live performances of music or theatre in Thailand. The anthem is also played at the sign-on and closedown of television and radio programming; for example, in 2008, 7HD aired a video with pictures of King Bhumibol Adulyadej from his birth to his 80th birthday in 2007. Radio Thailand (or NBT) also broadcast the sign-off with the anthem at 24:00 every night.

Thai people stand for the royal anthem of Thailand at the 2009 Red Cross Fair, Royal Plaza (Bangkok).

In 2019, the Royal Thai Government Gazette has published the Royal Office Regulation on Performing Honors Music of B.E. 2562. This regulation is detailed about using the royal anthem and other honors music for the king and members of the Thai royal family in several occasions. According to this regulation, The royal anthem "Sansoen Phra Barami" should be performed for the following:^[5]

The King of Thailand
Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother
The Queen of Thailand
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Princess Royal
Heirs-apparent to the throne
Royal remains
Some Thai Royal Standards when hoisted or shown:-
- Royal Standard of Thailand
- Standard of Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother
- Standard of the Queen of Thailand
- Standard for Senior members of the Royal Family (Standard of the Princess Mother)
- Standard of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Princess Royal
- Standard of the Crown Prince of Thailand

Lyrics

1958 band and vocal version

Performed by the Orchestra of the Fine Arts Department of Thailand

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The following are the current lyrics of "Sansoen Phra Barami", which was revised by King Vajiravudh in 1913.

Official lyrics

Thai^[6]	Romanisation (RTGS)	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เอามโนและศิระกราน นบพระภูมิบาล บุญดิเรก เอกบรมจักริน พระสยามินทร์ พระยศยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ผลพระคุณ ธ รักษา ปวงประชาเป็นสุขศานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสฤษดิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ชโย	Khaworaphutthachao Ao mano lae sira kran Nop phra phumiban bunyadirek Ek borommachakkrin Phra sayamin Phra yotsa ying yong Yen sira phro phra boriban Phon phra khun tha raksa Puang pracha pen suk san Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sarit dang Wang waraharuethai Dutcha thawai chai chayo	[kʰâː.wɔ̄ːrā.pʰút.tʰā.t͡ɕâːw] [ʔāw mā.nōː lɛ́ʔ sī.ráʔ krāːn] [nóp pʰráʔ pʰūː.mí(ʔ).bāːn būn.já(ʔ).dī.rèːk] [ʔèːk bɔ̄ː.rōm.mā.t͡ɕàk.krīn] [pʰráʔ sā.jǎː.mīn] [pʰráʔ jót.sàʔ jîŋ jōŋ] [jēn sī.ráʔ pʰrɔ́ʔ pʰráʔ bɔ̄ː.rí(ʔ).bāːn] [pʰǒn pʰráʔ kʰūn tʰáʔ rák.sǎː] [pūa̯ŋ prā.t͡ɕʰāː pēn sùk sǎːn] [kʰɔ̌ː bān.dāːn] [tʰáʔ prà.sǒŋ dāj t͡ɕōŋ sā.rìt dāŋ] [wǎŋ wā.rá(ʔ).hā.rɯ́(ʔ).tʰāj] [dùt.t͡ɕàʔ tʰā.wǎːj t͡ɕʰāj t͡ɕʰā.jōː]	We, servants of His great Majesty, prostrate our heart and head, to pay respect to the ruler, whose merits are boundless, our glorious sovereign, the greatest of Siam, with great and lasting honor, (We are) secure and peaceful because of your royal rule, the result of royal protection (are) people in happiness and in peace, May it be that whatever you will, be done according to the hopes of your great heart as we wish (you) victory, hurrah!

Ancient drama lyrics

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
อ้าพระนฤปจง ทรงสิริวัฑฒนา จงพระพุทธศา-สนฐีติยง ราชรัฐจงจีรัง ทั้งบรมวงศ์ ฑีรฆดำรง ทรงกรุณาประชาบาล ราชธรรมรักษา เป็นหิตานุหิตสาร ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสิทธิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายไชย ฉนี้	Ar phra na rue pra song Song siri wat ta na Jong pra put ta sa Son thi ti yong Rat cha rat jong jee rang Thee rha kha dam romg Song ka ru na pra cha ban Rat cha dhama tha raksa Pen hi ta nu hit san kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha-nee

School lyrics

Co-ed school

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เหล่ายุพยุพดี ยอกรชุลี วรบทบงสุ์ ซร้องศัพท์ถวายชัย ในนฤปทรง พระยศยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ผลพระคุณะรักษา ชนนิกายะศุขสานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสิทธิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ฉะนี้	Kha wora phuttha chao Lhao yup pa yup pa dee Yor korn an chu lee Vor ra bod tha bong Srong sub tha vaii chai Nai na rue paa song Phra yotsa ying yong Yen sira phro phra bori ban Phon phra khun na raksa Cha ni ka ya sukkha san Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha-nee

Boys school

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เหล่าดรุณกุมารา โอนศิรวันทา วรบทบงสุ์ ซร้องศัพท์ถวายชัย ในนฤปทรง พระยศยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ผลพระคุณะรักษา ชนนิกายะศุขสานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสิทธิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ฉะนี้	Kha wora phuttha chao Lhao da ruun na ku ma ra Oon si ra wan ta Vor ra bod tha bong Srong sub tha vaii chai Nai na rue paa song Phra yotsa ying yong Yen sira phro phra bori ban Phon phra khun na raksa Cha ni ka ya sukkha san Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha-nee

Girls school

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เหล่าดรุณกุมารี โอนศิรชุลี วรบทบงสุ์ ซร้องศัพท์ถวายชัย ในนฤปทรง พระยศยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ผลพระคุณะรักษา ชนนิกายะศุขสานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสิทธิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ฉะนี้	Kha wora phuttha chao Lhao da ruun na ku ma ree Oon si ra aan chu lee Vor ra bod tha bong Nai na rue paa song Phra yotsa ying yong Yen sira phro phra bori ban Phon phra khun tha raksa Cha ni ka ya sukkha san Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha-nee

Military lyrics

Lyrics used by the Royal Thai Army

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เหล่าพิริย์พลพลา สมสมัยกา- ละปิติกมล รวมนรจำเรียงพรรค์ สรรพ์ดุริยพล สฤษดิมลฑล ทำสดุดีแด่นฤบาล ผลพระคุณรักษา พลนิกายะสุขศานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสิทธิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ฉะนี้	Kha wora phuttha chao Lhao pi ri ya pol pha-la Som sa mai ka- la pi ti kamol Ruam nor ra jam rueang phak Sap pa du ri ya phon Sa rit di mon thon Tham sa du dee dae na rue ban Phon phra khun na raksa Puha la ni ka ya sukkha san Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha nee

Lyrics used by the Royal Thai Navy

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เหล่ายุทธพลนาวา ขอถวายวันทา วรบทบงสุ์ ยกพลถวายชัย ให้สยามจง อิสระยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ใจทหารทั้งบ่าวนาย ยอมขอตายถวายท่าน ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสฤษดิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ฉะนี้	Kha wora phuttha chao Lhao yut ta phon na va Khor tha wai wan ta Vor ra bod tha bong Yok phon tha wai chai Hai siam jong It sa ra ying yong Yen sira phro phra bori ban Jai tha harn thang bao nai Yom kho taii tha wai than Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wara haruethai Dut cha thawai chai cha-nee

Abridged lyrics during World War II

Thai	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เอามโนและศิระกราน นบพระภูมิบาล บรมกษัตริย์ไทย ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสฤษดิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัย ชโย	Kha wora phuttha chao Ao mano lae sira kran Nop phra phumi ban Borom kasat thai Kho bandan Tha prasong dai chong sit dang Wang wora haruetha Dut cha thawai chai chayo	[kʰâ: wɔ:.ráʔ pʰút.tʰáʔ t͡ɕâːw] [ʔaw má.noː lɛ́ʔ sì.ráʔ kraːn] [nóp pʰráʔ pʰuː.míʔ baːn ba rom.káʔ sat.thai] [kʰɔ̌: ban.daːn] [tʰáʔ prà.sǒŋ daj t͡ɕoŋ sà.rìt daŋ] [wǎŋ wá.ráʔ hà.rɯ́.tʰaj] [dùt.t͡ɕàʔ tʰà.wǎːj t͡ɕʰaj t͡ɕʰá.jo:]	We, servants of His great Majesty, prostrate our heart and head, to pay respect to the ruler, the Great King of Thailand, May it be that whatever you will, be done according to the hopes of your great heart as we wish (you) victory, hurrah!