Chapei Dong Veng: The Traditional Cambodian Musical Instruments

Abstract

This article aims to study “Chapei Dong Veng” (Khmer: ចាប៉ីដងវែង), the Cambodian two stringed long-necked Kajubpi (a guitar-type instrument), with regards to its origin and role by using Indian musical culture documents which are influential to the Khmer civilization. The study found that during the period of Pre – Phra Nakhon, (the ancient city of Khmer,) and the Phra Nakhon, the appearance of “Chapey” was limited under the form of “Veena” which is the most similarities to its instrumentation. The word, Veena, has a broad meaning referring to a plucked string instrument. Under the period of disappearances. It can thus be assumed that Chapey could have been used before the Pre-Phra Nakorn Period. Moreover, the status in its orchestration as a supportive on melodic instrumentation affected its sacred use role. Unlikely, the other harp-type or the other bow-type stringed instruments that has significant appearance on the Khmer architectural outter as decoration; it has shown. Through the period of Pre- Phra Nakorn (C.9-C.15), Chaypey was still hidden. But, under the Communism party regime that ruled between 1975 and 1979, Chapei Dong Veng originally served its duty as a tool for the political propagation of the military regimes. Today, Chapei Dong Veng still maintains its role being played in Cambodian musical ensembles. And, yet, it is still played among other accompaniments in many Cambodian rites, rituals and ceremonies.