The tro Khmer ( Khmer: ទ្រខ្មែរ) is a traditional bowed string instrument from Cambodia. Its body is made from a special type of coconut covered on one end with snake skin, and it has three strings. [1] Instruments are not standardized, and coconuts vary in size; however the instrument's sound bowl may have dimensions 16.5 cm by 14 cm. [2] In the past the strings were made of silk. By the 1960s, metal strings were in use, and the sound of the instrument changed, becoming sharper. [1]
The tro Khmer is closely related to a Thai instrument called saw sam sai.
The instrument may be related to the similarly shaped Indonesian version of the rebab, arriving there from Muslim culture, c. 15th century a.d. [1] A difference between the two is the number of stings; where the Indonesian rebab has two strings, the tro Khmer has three. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Kersalé Patrick. "Fiddle - tro khmer". soundsofangkor.org/. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ a b 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. 59.
See also
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