One of the most beautiful contributions of the Khmer Empire to Cambodian cultural heritage is its music. The country's rich musical heritage supports several ethnic forms of music, but Khmer music is at the center of it all.
It was the Angkorskaya period that saw Khmer music flourish and it spread its wings to envelope all religious ceremonies and temple celebrations among others. The beauty of Khmer music and dance reveals itself in the numerous sculptures on the Angkor temple walls. All the musical instruments used are depicted in the most glorious way.
Originally Khmer music was not meant for entertaining, but the combined sound that emanates from the instruments was used as a means of communication with God and the spirits.
Khmer music is five-tone or pentatonic with a rhythm determining the structure. This is the reason the shock instruments, such as the drums, double kettle-drums and gongs hold the main place in an orchestra. To the westerner, it may seem to lack harmony, as the music from one musician may give a different tune from that of the others.
Pinpeat, Mahori and Phleng kar are the three different ensembles of Khmer classical music. Mahori uses only stringed instruments. Pinpeat is one of the most popular ensembles that use wind and percussion instruments. No classical performance, prayer or a religious ceremony is considered complete without this music ensemble. Having its origins in the courts of the Angkor era thousands of years ago, it has through the ages retained its position as the strongest of all the music ensembles, with about 250 theme melodies. During theater performances, Pinpeat is played in conjunction with the exact act being performed on the stage. The sound from this ensemble is rich and has a strong rhythm that is said to fill people's hearts with joy.
Several other ensembles owe their birth to the Pinpeat; such as the phlaeng mahaori, khlang chnak and phlaeng. Most music ensembles found today in the villages are derivatives and similar to the ensembles from the past. In these villages, actors perform plays wearing masks and Cambodian women dance to the Pinpeat percussive ensemble even today.
There is no written version of Khmer music and whatever little was documented was lost in the wars. Most of it was handed down to the student from the teacher. The music was improvised quite a lot throughout the centuries. Instruments like the flute, guitar and others are also making their entry.
Khmer musicians believe in achieving perfection in playing one instrument, while at the same time gaining basic knowledge in all other instruments. This helps in several ways - in making them perfect as musicians and every musician understands all the instruments.
Cambodia has gone through the worst nightmare of all with the Khmer rouge, which brought to the ground most of the cultural heritage of Cambodia. In spite of that, Khmer music retained its strength, bringing Cambodians out of their misery with its rich and soothing tones. Khmer music is at the very center of Cambodian culture. - 33385
It was the Angkorskaya period that saw Khmer music flourish and it spread its wings to envelope all religious ceremonies and temple celebrations among others. The beauty of Khmer music and dance reveals itself in the numerous sculptures on the Angkor temple walls. All the musical instruments used are depicted in the most glorious way.
Originally Khmer music was not meant for entertaining, but the combined sound that emanates from the instruments was used as a means of communication with God and the spirits.
Khmer music is five-tone or pentatonic with a rhythm determining the structure. This is the reason the shock instruments, such as the drums, double kettle-drums and gongs hold the main place in an orchestra. To the westerner, it may seem to lack harmony, as the music from one musician may give a different tune from that of the others.
Pinpeat, Mahori and Phleng kar are the three different ensembles of Khmer classical music. Mahori uses only stringed instruments. Pinpeat is one of the most popular ensembles that use wind and percussion instruments. No classical performance, prayer or a religious ceremony is considered complete without this music ensemble. Having its origins in the courts of the Angkor era thousands of years ago, it has through the ages retained its position as the strongest of all the music ensembles, with about 250 theme melodies. During theater performances, Pinpeat is played in conjunction with the exact act being performed on the stage. The sound from this ensemble is rich and has a strong rhythm that is said to fill people's hearts with joy.
Several other ensembles owe their birth to the Pinpeat; such as the phlaeng mahaori, khlang chnak and phlaeng. Most music ensembles found today in the villages are derivatives and similar to the ensembles from the past. In these villages, actors perform plays wearing masks and Cambodian women dance to the Pinpeat percussive ensemble even today.
There is no written version of Khmer music and whatever little was documented was lost in the wars. Most of it was handed down to the student from the teacher. The music was improvised quite a lot throughout the centuries. Instruments like the flute, guitar and others are also making their entry.
Khmer musicians believe in achieving perfection in playing one instrument, while at the same time gaining basic knowledge in all other instruments. This helps in several ways - in making them perfect as musicians and every musician understands all the instruments.
Cambodia has gone through the worst nightmare of all with the Khmer rouge, which brought to the ground most of the cultural heritage of Cambodia. In spite of that, Khmer music retained its strength, bringing Cambodians out of their misery with its rich and soothing tones. Khmer music is at the very center of Cambodian culture. - 33385
