The purpose of this musical creation project is (1) to study the musical repertoires of cultures in the countries through which the Mekong River flows, and (2) to create a musical composition, entitled Mahanatee.

The research methodology involves a study of renowned folk songs from countries through which the Mekong River flows, including China, Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Selected folk melodies are incorporated into the composition Mahanatee. The work was developed through a structured process of melodic adaptation, reharmonization, and orchestration for brass quintet. Composition techniques employed include harmonic recontextualization using functional tonality, contrapuntal writing for thematic interplay, rhythmic transformation to align folk meters with Western notation, and idiomatic brass voicing to optimize timbral contrast and performance feasibility. These methods were guided by principles of Western music theory to create a cohesive, stylistically hybrid composition that maintains the cultural identity of the source material. The resulting data were then analyzed using established Western analytical frameworks, including harmonic and rhythmic analysis, to evaluate structural integrity and stylistic integration.

Mahanathee, by applying targeted composition techniques such as reharmonization, contrapuntal writing, rhythmic adaptation, and brass quintet orchestration, the work integrates traditional melodies into a Western chamber music context. The process preserves the cultural essence of the source material while achieving stylistic unity. The study provides a replicable framework for cross-cultural composition and analysis.