Monsoon-Country

To…
Sinn Sisamuth
Ros Sereysothea
Pen Rann
Meas Samann
Aung Nary
So Savoeun
Huy Meas
Meas Hokseng
In Yeng
Im Songserm
Wor Sarun
Pov Vannary
Lee Tek
Yus Ularang
and the countless other singers & musicians

What occurred in Cambodia following the events of April 17, 1975 is well documented and constitutes what is arguably one of the darkest periods in modern history. What is not so well documented is that Cambodia, prior to that fateful day, had become a thriving modern society in the years since its independence in 1953. Nowhere was this more evident than in the entertainment industry, where traditional music was often blended with western influences to produce a repertoire that continues to this day to inspire Khmer people, whether living at home or abroad. Thousands of tracks were recorded from the late 1960s to 1975 in a frenzy of creative activity, as if guided by a premonition of the devastation to come. In comparison to modern technical standards these recordings certainly sound dated, but the soul of the music and of those who created it survives. Without the existence of these recordings, Cambodia’s musical heritage would undoubtedly have suffered irreversibly.

Pop, Rock, Soul  

A surprising number of recordings have survived which indicate that Cambodian composers and musicians were well acquainted with developments in western popular music. Perhaps the presence of thousands of US military personnel in the region was a contributing factor, yet many of the songs seem to be drawn from the British as well as the American pop and folk music scenes.

Ram Wong  

This is a type of traditional circle dance where couples dance around a table covered with flowers. The ram wong song structure and rhythm are unmistakable, with distinct back-beat and repeated phrasing.

Khmer Ballad  

By 1975 popular music in the slow ballad style was highly developed, with a unique Khmer sound due to its reliance on a type of minor-pentatonic scale found in traditional wedding music.

Ram Kbach  

Also a type of traditional dance, ram kbach is slow and recalls the classical dance of the royal court as depicted in the stone carvings of the ancient Khmer temples.

Modern Ballad  

This is another western-influenced music style.

Phleng Ka  

Derived from Arak music which is often played to worship the spirits of ancestors, Plengka is performed in two types of ensemble. One is the Mahori which performs for wedding ceremonies and consists of Tro, Ta-ke, Khim, Skor Dai and a singer. The other group uses additional instruments such as Sralai, Sae-Diev, Chapey.

Khmer Ler  

Sometimes referred to as Khmer Surin, this music originated in the Khmer community of present-day northeast Thailand.

Ram Saravann  

Originating in southern Laos, the rhythm of this dance is quite distinct and is driven by the bass guitar and drum.

Lam Leav  

Also from southern Laos, this style closely resembles the morlam singing for which that country is well known.

Talung  

This style shares certain similarities with Ram Wong.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Dara Khiev for his support and encouragement in creating this webpage.