Pinpeat

The orchestra consists of approximately nine or ten instruments, mainly wind and percussion (including several varieties of xylophone and drums).

[2] The pinpeat is analogous to the pinphat adopted from the Khmer court by the Lao people[3] and the piphat ensemble of Thailand.

The earliest surviving depiction of the pin in Cambodia is dated to the 7th century on the temple at Sambor Prey Kuk, part of another Khmer kingdom known in Chinese record as Chenla, the successor of Funan.

[6][10] In 2013, the pin was revived by Patrick Kersalé, a French ethnomusicologist and Sonankavei, a Cambodian musical craftsman and professor.

[11][12] Modern musicians have begun experimenting, reincorporating the pin into the pinpeat, its place in the Angkorian court 800 years ago.

The pinpeat, in its form originating in India, consisted of four musical instruments, the pin (harp), (Khloy) flute, (samphor) drum, and chhing (small cymbals), based on an Indian epic.

[21][20] Another Chinese source also mentioned the famous music of Funan (Cambodia) that became popular[22] and was played at the courts of Sui and Tang dynasties.

Sathukar is the principle Cambodian Pinpeat music plays for the opening of Khmer traditional festivities and rituals.

Sathukar accompanies in Cambodian Royal Ballets, Masked Drama, Shadow Theatre, and many other traditional dances and rituals.

[24] All kind of Pinpeat ensembles play significant role in Cambodian society and daily life since its origin.