Soc Trang: 200 artists playing Khmer pentatonic music set a Vietnamese record

The pentatonic concert of 200 Khmer artists created a unique cultural space, recreating cultural nuances. music typical folklore of the Khmer community in the South. This is one of the outstanding activities at the 6th Ooc Om Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Race in Soc Trang, Mekong Delta region and the 1st Soc Trang Culture, Sports and Tourism Week, 2024.

The pentatonic concert of 200 Khmer artists created a unique cultural space, recreating the typical folk music and cultural nuances of the Khmer community in the South.

Pentatonic music, also known as Phlang Pin Piêt, is a popular form of folk music in the religious and festive life of the Khmer people. From religious ceremonies at pagodas, traditional funeral ceremonies to community cultural activities, pentatonic music is closely associated with the spiritual life of the Khmer people, reflecting the deep cultural depth.

Representatives of the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) Appraisal Board were present to record, witness the performance and record the data of 20 orchestras, with a total of 200 artisans, musicians and actors participating. Setting a record for the largest scale performance of Khmer pentatonic music in Soc Trang province in Vietnam.

This is one of the encouragements, recognizing the efforts and attempts in the work of preserving the national intangible cultural heritage for the folk performing art of pentatonic music. At the same time, it contributes to propagating, introducing and promoting local cultural heritages closer to domestic and foreign tourists.

Setting a record for the largest Khmer pentatonic music performance in Soc Trang province in Vietnam.

According to Mr. Tran Minh Ly, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT&DL) of Soc Trang province, pentatonic music is a traditional, popular and long-standing musical form of the Khmer people in the South in general. Through the process of formation, existence and development, this art form has been preserved and contains many values. In particular, despite many changes in social life, pentatonic music still affirms itself and constantly adapts to survive and develop in new circumstances.

Pentatonic music is preserved and contains many values.

In recent years, from the Project "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with development Travel” (under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority Areas), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province has invested funds to purchase many pentatonic sets to support Khmer clubs and pagodas in the province. Along with that, many training courses have been organized to teach various types of national intangible cultural heritage, including the art of performing folk pentatonic music...

Pentatonic music deserves to become one of the very important and typical national intangible cultural heritages of the Khmer community.

“The pentatonic music deserves to become one of the very important and typical national intangible cultural heritages of the Khmer community. Over time, the flow of this cultural heritage has been continuously continued, nurtured and spread in the Khmer community,” emphasized the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang.