sonic cambodia

audible culture in the kingdom of wonder

Ta Morn’s Phleng Arak Ensemble, Kampong Thom

Rin (រីន) vocals and drum | Yat (យា៉ត) vocals and drum | Lin (លីន) tro sau

Dueng Si Morn (ដួង ស៊ី មន) pei pok | Em (អេម) vocals and drum

Phleng Arak (ផ្លេងអារក្យ) is a Cambodian music used to incite spirit possession.

Arak (អារក្យ) spirits are generally understood to be malevolent and to be responsible for illness and death in the community; ritual ceremonies are prescribed by a Kru Khmer (គ្រូខ្មែរ) traditional healer as a means of enabling a community to make offerings to and commune with the Arak in the hope of ultimately appeasing it, thereby healing the sick person.

Believed to be the oldest form of Cambodian music continually in use, Phleng Arak is a ritual offering meant to entice an Arak spirit to possess a medium. Different songs are believed to have different powers: some are meant to call the spirit, some to entertain the spirit on its journey to possess, and others are meant to entertain the spirit upon its arrival. After entering the medium, the Arak then acts, speaks, and dances through the medium, then answers questions from community members attending the ritual before leaving.

As medicine supplants or supplements spiritual healing practices in many parts of Cambodia, Phleng Arak is becoming quite rare. There are few young musicians who desire to learn from the culture-bearers, and much knowledge will be lost when these older musicians pass away.

You can listen to recordings of another ensemble here.