Samphor
The samphor (Khmer: សំភោរ; also romanized as sampho) is a small, 2-headed barrel drum indigenous to Cambodia, approximately .35 meter wide by .5 meter long.[1][2] It has two heads, with one drumhead being larger than the other and is played with both hands.[1][2] Depending on the ability of the musician, the samphor can make as many as 8 different pitches.[1] The player of the sampho leads the pinpeat (a classical ensemble of wind and percussion instruments), setting the tempo and beat.[2] It is also played at freestyle boxing evens, accompanying the sralai.[2] The samphor is analogous to the taphon used in Thailand.
The samphor is made by hollowing out a single block of wood into a barrel shape.[2] Both ends are covered with calfskin, tightened by strips of leather or rattan.[2] One head of the drum is larger than the other to allow differing tones.[2] Traditionally, the maker "tunes" each head by applying a circle of paste made of rice and ashes (from a palm); however a new resin paste is available today.[1][2] The pitch to which the skin head is tuned becomes lower with a thicker layer of ash.[2]
The drummer makes use of four distinct strokes: an open and closed stroke for each head. Each of these four sounds has a Cambodian name:
- Open stroke, small head (ting)
- Closed stroke, small head (tip)
- Open stroke, large head (theung)
- Closed stroke, large head (tup)
See also
- Music of Cambodia
- Kendang
References
- ^ a b c d Khean, Yun; Dorivan, Keo; Lina, Y; Lenna, Mao. Traditional Musical Instruments of Cambodia (PDF). Kingdom of Cambodia: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. p. 226.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Skor". Angelfire. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
External links
- Video showing modern performance of "Apsara dance" music, with Pin harp, samphor drum (on table) and skor thom drums (on floor).
- Sampo at UMBC.edu. Photo of Master musician, Sum Tath.
- v
- t
- e
- Roneat ek
- Roneat thung
- Roneat dek / Roneat thong (metallophone)
- Kong toch
- Kong von thom
- Kong mon
- Kagn Chram
- Kanderng
- Skor yeam
- Samphor
- Skor sang na
- Skor timila ស្គរទីមីឡា (hourglass drum)
- Skor thom
- Skor chhaiyam
- Skor daey (skor arak or aaroksa, skor kar, skor toch, skar ayai)
- Skor yike
- Thon and rammana
- Khloy (khloy ek, khloy thom)
- Tre
- Sneng
This Cambodia-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
This article relating to membranophones is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e