Music of Cambodia

and
Myanmar
 Cambodia
• Cambodia is one of the most beautiful
countries in Southeast Asia.
• Its music flourished in both village and court
settings, some associated with specific
functions and entertainment.
 There are different kinds of music used for
different activities in the villages of Cambodia:
• Kar music is used in the celebrations of
wedding.
• Arakk music accompanies the rituals during
communications with spirits.
• Ayai Repartee singing for some entertainment
• Yike and Basakk for theater performances.
 The Pinpeat Ensemble
• The Pinpeat ensemble is an orchestra that
accompanies the different royal activities of
the courts and temples in Cambodia like
religious ceremonies, court dances, masked
and shadow plays. It has similarities with the
Thai Piphat ensemble which consists of nine
to ten musical instruments. Its musical
expression emphasizes gong ensembles, drum
ensembles and free-read mouth organs with
gourd wind chests.
The ensemble consists of the following
instruments:
• SAMPHOR is a double-headed drum played by
using hands.
• ONEAT is a xylophone instrument.
• CHING is a finger cymbals.
• SKORTHOM is a two-big drum instrument.
• KONGVONG is a set of gongs in circular
formation
• CHAMRIENG are the vocals
Myanmar Music
 Myanmar
• Myanmar was known as Burma until 1989. Its
music is melodious, generally without
harmony and is usually in common time
signature of 4/4 (na-ye-si), 2/4 (wa-let-se), or
8/16 (wa-let-a-myan). Burmese classical music
ensembles are divided into outdoor and
indoor ensembles.
• Sidaw also known as sidawgyi, is an outdoor
ensembles in royal courts. It is usually
performed in a royal ploughing ceremony, an
ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries
to mark the traditional start of the rice
growing season.
• Saung is an indoor form composed of a female
singer accompanied by a traditional ensemble.
 Sidaw Ensemble
Hnegyi is a large double-reed pipe

Si is a bell

Wa is a clapper

Gandama is a double-headed drum.

 Saung Ensemble
• Saung is an arched harp. It is known as the
national musical Burmese instrument
• Patala is a xylophone. It is tuned similar to the
diatonic scale.
• Mi gyaung is a crocodile-shaped fretted,
plucked zither with three strings. It is similar
to the Thai chakhe, the Cambodian takhe, and
the Mon kyam (pronouced “chyam”)
• Palwel is a flute

• Tayaw is a fiddle

• Hnyin is a small mouth organ

• Myanmar has extensive collection of classical
songs called Mahagita. These songs are
divided intp different types from the oldest
repertoire like: royal court music, worship and
horses, dance songs, and songs of longing and
sorrow.
• Byaw is a distinct from other played at
religious festivals and is sung to the beat of a
long and thin drum.