Phleng Arak may disappear from Cambodia in the Future

By Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Phleng Arak [Arak music] which Cambodian people usually play to communicate with the ghosts’ souls, water and forests spirits for treating people’s sickness and welding ceremonies in the families is concerned it would disappear in the future.

It would disappear from Cambodia due to the old Cambodian people who well-remembered about it had never been taught to the students or writing any books for the next generation, and it is a bit difficult to learn comparing to other music, according to officials in charge of Khmer Music.

“I am very worry that Arak music will be not existed more in Cambodia in the upcoming future if there is no conservation to be protected from the Cambodian government,” said Yun Khean, Vice-Dean of the Royal University of Fine Arts.

Khean who is also a composer and professor at the Department of Khmer Classical Music of the Royal University of Fine Arts, said Arak music which is the oldest form of the Khmer music until now it has survived for about 2,000 years ago. But until today, Khean who got a Bachelor Degree in Ethnomusicology recognized that it would disappear from Cambodia in the upcoming future. He said that it has never been educated or written in the book for the young generation. And another reason due to Arak music is more difficult to learn comparing to other music and difficult to find work, he addressed.

He said that nowadays, there are only two or three students who come to learn Arak music with him at the department of Khmer Classical Music. It was few number compared to other music taught at the Royal University of Fine Arts.

Concerning with Arak music, Professor Khean, 51, who learned this music from his father since 1972, said that Phleng Arak, which is the Brahma belief, has existed in Cambodia since the first century in the Funan regime.

Arak Music was played by a group of 10 people in the Brahma or Buddhist ceremonies in all places and provinces in Funan regime. The players of Phleng Arak include two male singers, one female singer and eight musicians appear on around two stages “Thou Roup”, people who will welcome the spirits into their bodies, and who then will enter into a trance during the songs, he explained. The instruments taken to play in the Arak music includes drums, oboe, Chapei Dorngveng, Kse diev (guitar), Tro Ou and Tro Khmer (three-stringed guitar), Bror Bos and Chhing. The length of the Arak ceremony in the past depended upon the wealth of the families.

According to believers, he said the importance of Phleng Arak was to communicate with the ancestors spirits, to turn to them for counsel when their descendants faced illnesses or natural catastrophes.

Sak Tol, 75, Chief of Wat Damrey Sor in Kampong Speu province, said that for 2,000 years ago, Arak music was very popular for the Cambodian people.

“Cambodian people played Arak in order to communicate with the ghosts’ souls, the water and forests spirits for the peoples’ treatment and welding ceremonies in the families. And to thank you ‘Spirit’ for helping them,” he said.

“Arak is very effective and influence for the people in previous times. It could rescue the people from being affected the diseases and natural catastrophes,” he said.

Eng Setha, 67, a retirement teacher, living in Kean Svay district, Kandal province, said that so far, despite the arrival of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), his family sill believed in Arak.

He said, “I always celebrate Arak every year in my family. I did it in order to thank ancestors’ and forests’ spirits for providing my family members the peace, prosperity and healthy.”

Nath Buntha, 52, a farmer living Baseth district, Kampong Speu province, said that his 71-year old father was ill for longer time, he was not able neither wake up nor walking.

He said that he used to bring him to hospitals for treatment for many years but his illness was not better. Thus, he decided to invite the people to play Arak for him.

“But, when I invited the people playing Arak for him, I noted that his illnesses seemed to be better and soon, he is able to talk, to eat, to sit and walking,” he said. “Now, my father is okay and healthy.”

Hang Sothy, Chief of the Office and Information at the Ministry of Cults and Religions, said that according to his notice, nowadays about 10 percent of Cambodian people still believe in Arak and playing it every year.

“I think that the people continued to practice Arak because it is still helpful for them—that means it could help them to recover from sickness,” he said.

He pointed out that most of the Arak music was played by the old people in the cultural provinces and cities such as Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Otdor Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Takeo, Stung Treng and Kratie provinces.

Professor Yun Khean told the Cambodia Weekly that according to a research on Arak music conducted in 1960s, during the Funan regime, there were more than 1,000 titles of Phleng Arak. But due to the longest-civil war in Cambodia and people who had remembered the traditional music had been killed and died, there are only 74 titles of Phleng Arak remaining playing until nowadays.

He concerned that the 74 titles of Phleng Arak would disappear if there is no one still not writing them in the books.

Khean has appealed to the related ministries and the Cambodian government to take action, especially to preserve the oldest music “Phleng Arak”.