Music is one of the dominant parts of Cambodian life
thousand years ago. All families normally have their own musical instruments
playing by themselves or having musician to play for the rich family including
royal palace. Traditionally, there are usually the musical group to entertain
the local residents for all the ceremonies and festivals, especially religious
and marriage ceremony. Khmer music has gone so far through the peak of
modernization before and during Angkor period doing the sculpture on the wall
of the ancient temples; there are many types of musical instruments found and
only some remains until today.
Falling down the power of Angkor Era, Cambodian lost her own
music instruments and documents as well as the musician being killed and
flowing to the newly kingdoms such as Siam Kingdom (Thailand) and Lao Kingdom.
It should be noted that Lao Kingdom still keep the original music standard from
Angkor Empire since a Lao King used to live and got heritage from Angkor along
the marriage with a princess of Angkor. Anyway, some musicians in Cambodia were
luckily alive scattering throughout the remaining territory, but the war still
proceeded for hundreds of years later.
Longvek and Udong era had opened the new age of musical
conservation along with local wars. Cambodian music got a bit influence back
from Siam Kingdom after she lost the war ending the Longvek era in exchange of
flowing Khmer documents and music into Siam. Some people confused Cambodia
gaining the music completely from Siam Kingdom. In fact, Cambodian still
preserved their own traditional music very well; only that some had to learn in
Siam Kingdom because of the musical documents collection mostly kept in Siam
Kingdom with their new remix.
Until France came to Cambodia as requested by King Ang Duong
to let this country remained independent from Siam Kingdom and Annam Kingdom which
tried to divide Cambodia into two parts for their control. However, Cambodia
was colonized later by France as the opening water gateway towards China
through Mekong River and at last France could not complete their mission since
there are many obstacles in the upper Mekong River. In contrast, France started
to use the Indochina Region including Laos, Cambodia, Annam, Tongkin and
Cochinchina (Kampuchea Krom or South Cambodia) for political power, trade and
slavery. Fortunately, French found the interest in Khmer music and preserve
them among residents. Music is in peace at the moment with the inflow of
western music.
After French colonization had gone, western and traditional
music was remixed as popular among teenagers during Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime
(1955-1970) and Khmer Republic. Many musical teams were established by King
Norodom Sihanouk and local authority to popularized Khmer and western music; famous singers and musicians came to Phnom Penh for the nationwide music popularity
including Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Sereysothea, Pen Ran, Huy Meas, Sos Math, Im
Songseum, Pov Vannary, Kong Bun Chhoeurn, Norodom Sihanouk, Chhim Chhuon, In
Yeng, Oeung Nary, Chhuon Malai, Sieng Dy, Norodom Sereyvuth, Mao Sareth, Chhun
Vanna, Mol Kamach, Duch Kimhak, So Savoeurn, Kol Sem, Vor Sarun, Has Salorn, Ma
Laopy, Voy Ho, Sin Keat, Sim Touch, Pen Ram, Nou Nhong, Kim Sam El, Svay Sam
Oeur, Oum Dora, Chum Kem….
Stopping completely to year zero, popular artists and
musicians were vanished one by one in Pol Pot Regime (1975-1979). There was only music group from Pol Pot team broadcasting
only for the political ideology. After the fall of this regime, Cambodia
restarted the musical preservation with the musicians alive to gather as the
group transferring their knowledge to next generation. What an
amazing! The oldies musical and song records have been found gradually
nationwide and imported from neighboring countries with Khmer community. This
is the good lesson for next generation to study for both golden voice and
musical heritage.
Recently, there are many musical schools providing the
opportunity for teenager to learn, especially in international school. Since
then, music writing is now en route to create the original one for Cambodia and
stop the copy from foreign countries. Not only music, but singer groups have
been registered to entertain the teen. One of the very famous song is Or! Tung
Cheat Khmer played by Small World Small Band; another admirable group is
Animation Plus! We are still motivational to encourage Cambodian to establish
something original to promote Cambodian prestige to the world.
