Who composed the music of Thailand’s national anthem, “Phleng Chat Thai”?

Phra Chen-Duriyang composed the music of Thailand’s national anthem, “Phleng Chat Thai.” His birth name was Peter Feit, and he was the son of a German musician who settled in Siam. He became an important music teacher, conductor, and composer in Thailand.

The melody was written in 1932, during the political transformation that ended Thailand’s absolute monarchy. Luang Saranupraphan later wrote the Thai lyrics used for the national anthem. The government selected the composition after a competition, and it became the official national anthem in the same broad period as the country’s constitutional change.

“Phleng Chat Thai” literally means “Thai National Anthem.” It should not be confused with the royal anthem, “Sansoen Phra Barami,” which honors the monarch and is used on different ceremonial occasions. Thailand’s national anthem is played publicly each morning and evening in many settings, including schools and broadcast media.