AMAZING CAMBODIA CHAPEI DONG VENG, STORYTELLERS IN THE CITHARE

 An ancient instrument which can be found on the sculpted walls of Angkor Wat, the origin of this instrument does not seem very clear, however.

Some say that the existence of the Chapei Dong Veng goes back to the existence of the Buddha, who would have been inspired by the strings of the instrument to achieve Enlightenment: too tight, or, conversely, not tight enough, they will not allow you to output a melodious sound.

Although the instrument is integrated in the musical formations of classical music, the players of Chapei generally perform alone, or with two Chapei.

More than "simple" musicians, the artists practicing the Chapei are instrumentalists half-singers, half-storytellers, endowed with broad religious and literary knowledge.

The repertoire of traditional songs includes songs of a religious and philosophical nature (history of Buddhism and the life of Buddha), as well as songs related to ancient Khmer literature (Reamker and other popular legends).

The chants of the player of Chapei convey through their words traditional socio-educational values, transmitting to a large audience a wide range of knowledge on religion, history, and good manners to be held in society. However, they must remain entertaining, these songs releasing an extraordinary energy, carried by a lively gesture of the player of Chapei who will always try to communicate with his audience.

Depending on the ceremonies and events during which they will be asked to perform, Chapei players will be able to take up traditional stories entirely while adapting the melodies to their own style, but adepts of words, they will be able to create their texts on a subject. defined, and to which will always be added a part of improvisation.

SUON SAN, MASTER OF CHAPEI DONG VENG

Suon San, Chapei Dong Veng Master - Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Chapei master Suon San, now living in the suburbs of Phnom Penh where he teaches in Cambodian Living Arts programs and performs, is originally from Takeo province. Since his earliest childhood, he has been fascinated by music, which he listens to, delighted, when musicians come to play not far from his home. It was at the age of 16 that he took his first real Chapei lesson, lessons quickly interrupted by the war that he would resume a few years later.

Photographed above with a painting of his master, Lok Kru Pov Thaudai, a very popular Chapei player in the past, Suon San is sorry to see the practice of Chapei gradually falling into disuse, young people increasingly abandoning the traditional arts for western music, whereas in the past musicians enjoyed wide popularity among the Cambodian population.

Finding himself in the values ​​conveyed by the songs, Suon San however endeavors to teach his art to the youngest, and hopes to be able to transmit to the young generation a whole part of this precious Cambodian cultural identity.

One to two weeks of preparation are necessary for Suon San to create the common thread of a story of which you will have chosen the subject, if you want to make the sound of the Chapei resonate during one of your ceremonies or events ...