Three books were released last week as part of a program to preserve Cambodian traditions in arts and crafts, and promote them among the general public.
Written in Khmer and in English, they were produced by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, with the assistance of the Royal University of Fine Arts.
“Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cambodia” lists, with an emphasis on dance and drama forms, various forms of performing arts and crafts passed on orally throughout the centuries—such as Pleng Pin Peat music whose origins go back to the 6th century; traditional circus; and Komnap spoken poetry.
“Robam Angre,” or “Pestle Dance,” is about a folk dance of the Kuay minority people, that used to be performed in many areas of the country at Khmer New Year and after rice harvest. The book goes into details of the music and dance steps.
“This dance is among three or four dances at risk of disappearing,” said Teruo Jinnai, culture program specialist for Unesco.
Research in the 1960s identified 42 folk dances in Cambodia, said Hang Soth, director general of techniques at the Ministry of Culture. “We hope to produce books on each of them,” he said.
“Traditional Musical Instruments of Cambodia” is the second edition of a work published in 1994. It describes Cambodia’s various instruments, with music sheets and technical details on how to play them; and explains the difference between Western and Cambodian scales.
Two years ago, Unesco and the ministry produced books to encourage arts professors and students to preserve traditions and create new forms, said Jinnai. The new works will be used for this purpose and to publicize the arts in Cambodia and abroad, and obtain support from international donors.
