Khlang thneak ក្លងធ្នាក់ funeral orchestra
MAJ : 9 décembre 2023
The khlang thneak ក្លងធ្នាក់ orchestra is a variable-geometry ensemble played in a number of contexts, such as funerals, Khmer martial arts, the procession of a Buddha image, the Preah Vossa ព្រះវស្សា candlelight procession, or His Majesty's wedding procession. The number of klong khaek ក្លងខែក drums depends on the social rank of the deceased: from two for a senior civil servant to twelve for the King. In funerary contexts, it is usually accompanied by a bossed gong on bearing.
Oboe
There are various types of oboe in Cambodia. The one used at funerals is a model with a conical bore and flared bell. Like all Cambodian oboes, it is fitted with a quadruple reed made of sugar palm leaf. It is played using the continuous blowing technique.
The klong khaek ក្លងខែក drum
This drum is known by various names of Thai origin, or Khmer derived from Thai:
- klong khaek, Khmer ក្លងខែក, Thai กลองแขก, pronounced [klɔːŋ kʰɛ̀ːk]. In the Thai language, this word literally means "Indian drum". According to a gender symbolism still known in Thailand, there are two types: klong khaek tua phu (กลองแขกตัวผู้) considered masculine, and klong khaek tua mia (กลองแขกตัวเมีย), feminine. The former has a higher-pitched sound than the latter.
- klong chnak (or thneak?).
- klong chhneah (Thai) or skor chhneah ស្គរឈ្នះ (Khmer), literally "swinging drum", because when played, it hangs obliquely over the chest and swings. (according to Keo Narom).
- skor chuia (in Siem Reap).
Ce tambour est frappé avec une baguette coudée. En contexte funéraire, le fût est recouvert d'une étoffe blanche. À Phnom Penh, pour l'usage de la royauté, il est peint de blanc avec des décors floraux à quatre pétales phka chan ផ្កាច័ន្ទ de couleur or, argent ou noir.
The skor sang na ស្គរសាំងណា drum
Most musicians call this drum skor sang na ស្គរសាំងណា or simply sang na សាំងណា, a name derived from Thai klong song na กลองสองหน้า, pronounced [klɔːŋ sɔ̌ːŋ nâː] or [klɔːŋ sɔ̌ŋ nâː]. It is also called peat meang ពាទ្យម៉ាង or skor muk pi ស្គរមុខពីរ, literally "two-sided drum".
This is a two-membrane drum with a variety of profiles: cylindrical, with a conical tendency or slightly bulging. It measures around 50 to 60 cm and has a diameter of 20 cm. The body is made of jackfruit wood, a light wood widely used in South-East Asian lutherie, both for small membranophones and cordophones. The two cowhide membranes are joined by a leather tie of the same animal, moving back and forth.
When the tie is too short to complete the ligature, it is connected to the next one by a buttonhole system. The two membranes are slightly different in size. The larger is named "master" មេ and the smaller "child" កូន; they produce the sounds "ting" ទីង and "teung" ទើង. Traditionally, the membranes were tuned with rice paste, but today musicians prefer Blu Tack, which comes in blue, green or white, depending on what's available on the market. At each end of the drum, a hole is drilled in the body to attach a carrying strap. In the playing position, the strap passes around the musician's neck and the drum rests on his belly.
Generally, in funeral processions, a single skor sang na is played (sometimes two), accompanied by a number of klong khaek depending on the social rank of the deceased. In funeral contexts, this drum is also covered with a white cloth.
Funeral of architect Vann Molyvann
Architect Vann Molyvann was a highly decorated official of the Cambodian state (he served as a minister). As such, his remains were accompanied by a khlang thneak orchestra comprising an oboe, two klong khaek drums and a skor sang na drum (plus a second during the procession). He was also honored by the Royal Palace Guard and Hindu priests (baku).