ROBAM MONI MEHKALA-1966

[tofoodood]

@lchan90a - It makes sense. Thanks.

[tofoodood]

By the way, can anyone explain the difference between pleng mohori and pleng pin peat please?

[lchan90a]

@tofoodood

i think pleng pin peat is more older and classical, much more in royal use. as for mohori, i think its almost like folk and wedding music. I'm not really sure if I'm giving out the right info though.

[trickystyle]

@tofoodood mahori is a secular form of music.  it usually includes stringed instruments and a flut. pinpeat is usually reserved for classical dance, temple music, royal music and does not include stringed instruments. popular instruments in mahori are the takhe, khim, kloy, and tro.

[tofoodood]

I'm learning so much from everyone here. Thanks so much for posting these amazing videos, and all the comments surrounding timeless Khmer Classical dance and music.

Luckily, several original members from the "Vong Pleng Preah Reach'troaop"(Classical Ensemble of the Royal Treasury) survived the genocide and devoted their effort to help revive this unique Khmer heritage. I weep every time I watch and listen to these videos.

[naruto10119]

i love the main female vocalist! anyone know her name?

[lchan90a]

no i dont, sorry

[NATYARASA]

The vocalist is Lok Yey Em Theay. Neak Kru Khem Bunnak (no longer living) is portraying Moni Mekhala; Lok Yey Soth Sam On is Ream Eyso.

[lchan90a]

omg lok yey Em Theay sang this song? i would have never knew that. also, lok yeay Soth Sam On is she still teaching khmer classical dance nowadays?

[NATYARASA]

She is very old now so she is retired. Although I've heard stories of her jumping up during rehearsals to hit dancers who are practicing the movements incorrectly (it doesn't hurt of course and it's a sign of caring in the end).

[naruto10119]

Neak Menneang Bunnak was the primere dancer allowed to dance for the role of Sita and Moni Mekhala right? I know that the Prima Ballerina was Buppha Devi, though I've never seen her dance Sita or Moni Mekhala.

[lchan90a]

yeah i bet the teachers dont brutally hurt the dance students. i guess its just a warning not to make a mistake again...lol

[naruto10119]

i dont now. i bet some take pleasure in it. the dance teachers are VERY mean. Especially when they still have the energy.

[naruto10119]

neak kru em theay is around sixty now, sadly, her house and all she had was lost recently along with manuscripts containing very rare articles to fire.

[lilcraziaznkid]

i love preah keo moni mekhala!!! isnt there robam tep monorom in this vid?

[lchan90a]

yes there is

[lilcraziaznkid]

sweet!!if you dont mind would u plz upload the tep monorom vid plz!!! i would appreciate that!! ;]

[MusaboruOo]

Thanks for posting this. It`s so nice to hear the music from then. Nowadays they rarely use the khloy, but rather use the sralay instead. Sralay sounds nice, but 90% of the time it sounds horrible cos the musician doesn`t play it well. A few good examples exist though, like in the Royal Ballet of Cambodia posted by CPP.

[MusaboruOo]

This video has really nice sounding khloy, but the khloy playing in the Robaim Ta Ye video posted by TSerey is the most pirous here on youtube. (Im not to fond of the singing in that clip though).

[lchan90a]

thanx for viewing the video. yes the khloy make the music sound so soft and relaxed. sometimes the sralay doesn't sound so good depending on the musician. i guess mostly back then they used the khloy instead of the sralay.

[MusaboruOo]

Agreed. It does sounds more relaxing and elegant. I wish they would bring the khloy back into use for Cambodian classical dance music.

[lchan90a]

yeah but khloys nowadays are used in folk dances and fewer in classical dance :(

[naruto10119]

actually, i've never heard the flute used in recent dances :(

[lchan90a]

well the most recent ones i've heard is in the new dance piece call, Pamina Devi.

[rpornngam]

thank you for post these vdo.very nice and interesting

[lchan90a]

yeah you're welcome. I'm glad you liked the dance :)

[Cambodiandancer]

actually she died when she was around her 50's :( from the Khmer Rouge

[lchan90a]

oh i'm really sorry to hear about that

[Cambodiandancer]

my grandma used to dance Moni Mekhala for the Royal Family

[lchan90a]

whoa, really? thats good to hear that some dancers from the 60's are still surviving.