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By
: May Titthara, Pictures by : M. Veassna. | | |
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| After
putting the pieces together, Im Bun Theoun carefully tunes the Ror Neak (xylophone)
before he delivers it to his customer. | | | | |
| The banging sounds "Pang,
pang, pang," are as piercing as the fiery red sparks shooting from the hammer
of Im Bun Theoun, one of Cambodia's premier instrument makers. A young girl sits
beside him in the small cottage, feeding the fire and listening to the natural
music of crackling flames.
Since much of the country's musical culture was
eradicated during the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror, Im Bun Theon is thought to
be a pioneer. He and his wife reside in Roung Chak village, Phnom Penh Thmey Commune,
Russey Keo District, Phnom Penh. Im Bun Theon says he copes with the harsh memories
of the Pol Pot regime by making and playing musical instruments. During the Khmer
Rouge, he was a musician for a Pol Pot army group. He said he played for them
with no hard feelings. His talent was a life saver, enabling him to breathe, while
so many others were | |
emotionally and physically asphyxiated by mass genocide.
When he was still
working at the Royal University of Fine Arts in 1984, Im Bun Theon began making
Khmer instruments for a Japanese company.
Seven years
later, he stopped working at the university to begin making instruments full time
with his wife at home. Included in his repertoire are Kong, a variety of small
gongs arranged in a semicircle according to their pitch; Chhoeng, a tiny pair
of cymbals; Sam Phor, a kind of drum covered with skin; Takhe, a guitar-like instrument;
TroOu, a violin-like instrument with hard, heavy tones; and the xylophone. All
are made from bronze and wood.
Although bronze can be more aesthetically
pleasing than wood, it is difficult for Im Bun Theon to use the metal, since he
must order it from other people for $7 per kilogram, and it is not always clear
whether the product is bronze |
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| Fiercely
beating up a piece of bronze to the correct shape and size to produce a small
gong for the Kong Instrument. | | |
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or copper. "Copper
is very soft. When we turn it into an instrument and we hit it one or two times,
it will crack," he said. "It is not like bronze and will wilt."
While his hands twisted a strip of bronze around a Kong's wooden frame, Im Bun
Theon explained how he makes his instruments. "First, we burn the bronze
and after put it into a mold. Then we hit it into the shape of a coconut shell.
Later, we make it round by tying it with round wood." He spends three days
sweating over the fire to produce one beautiful, high-quality instrument. |
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| Im Bun
Theon putting the little gong pieces together to produce the traditional Kong
instrument. It takes the skills of a true master
musician to be able to make
these little gongs, let alone arranging
and to synchronise them to make beautiful
music. | | | | |
| Since his work depends
on fire, rain can put a damper on production. "We make instruments according
to the weather," he said. "If we have rain or unkind weather, we can't
do it because we need fire and sunshine." This humble business reaps great
rewards. One group of instruments can be sold for $2500, but Im Bun Theon does
not keep all the money. He first must pay for raw materials, student workers,
and finally his family. Although he sees only a portion of the profit, this salary
is far better than what he was making at the Royal University of Fine Arts. He
is pleased to be able to provide more for his family by doing what he loves.
Ten years ago, Im Bun Theon worked long, hard hours with his wife to make enough
instruments to survive. As an established artisan, he now can work less by employing
six students to help with production. His students follow the master's instructions,
which yield products specifically requested by clients the University of Fine
Arts, Khmer people living abroad, and monks who use instruments to celebrate ceremonies
at the pagoda.
The 52 year-old's lips curl into a smile as he speaks about
his family, consisting of his wife, two sons and four daughters. He is very proud
of his second son, who is following in his father's footsteps. This young man,
just 24 years old, already is Im Bun Theon's chief student and he is showing signs
of a great future.
Although this musical pioneer is nearing the twilight
of his career, it is clear that his legacy is only just beginning. |
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Suite B8, Regency
Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom
of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033 E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com | | |
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