If you ask me it looks a rather prominent public figure.

For Photo Wednesday.

I was down the pub to get some takeway when a friend walked in.
“I’m just in from the theatre,” she said, “they’re having performances through March first.” Apparently several times a day.

Now, I have had my head pulled  in like a turtle this last week due to work.

But for the life of me I could see nothing on the web or in the (English or French) press. LadyPenh / Expat-Advisory / Phnom Penh Post / Cambodia Daily, BongThom, Asialife?

Anybody? TaxiVantha? (That was a friendly nudge, kindly correct me if I’m wrong.) Despite the best efforts of many arts groups, there’s still a pretty big cultural divide, largely due to language. I prefer to blunder in whenever possible, you never know what you’ll discover.

I have managed to score a Khmer events program, (blogged up as a scan) and will link up a translation shortly. There is a lot of culture to be explored in Phnom Penh, but sometimes it’s a bit of a treasure hunt. Chaktomuk ahoy!

More from Andy:
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/taking-stage.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/street-performance.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/festival-season.html

Feb 25 Postscript: Very Rough Draft Translated schedule

(Earlier draft in comments below, subject to change.)

On the Festival of Khmer Theatrical Performance of the Kingdom of Cambodia

1st Day: Thursday 18th February 2010
Time: 16:00
Opening Festival of Khmer Theatrical Performance of Kingdom of Cambodia 2010, preside over Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and Lok Chumteav

2nd Day: Friday 19th February 2010
Starting Competition Process

Morning:
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Buddha Brovat” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Takeo Province

10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Dong Sovann Chan Kiri” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kep City

Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Yike “Brovat Phnom Sompov” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Battambang Province

5pm Committee Meeting

3rd Day: Saturday 20th February 2010

8:00 Lakhon Yike “Mekhantragoun Phnon Kachol”performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Kompong Speu province.

2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Khla Osleak”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Koh Kong province

5:00 Committee Meeting

4th Day: Sunday 21st February 2010

Morning
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Bontong Maratak” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Svay Rieng Province

Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Niayay, “Phkarik Ottong” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Ratanakiri province

5:00 Committee Meeting

5th Day Monday 22 February 2010

8:00 Lakhon Niayay “Kon Khos Heuy Me”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Bay Len province

Evening

2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Tejo Meas” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Thom province.

5:00 Committee Meeting

6th Day: Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Morning:
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Tondakam Chivit” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Chnang Province

10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Maratak Kon Ploh” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Prey Veng Province

Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Tip Sangva” performed by Bodyguard Unit.

5:00 Committee Meeting

7th Day: Wednesday 24th February 2010

10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Tom Nuogn Phsot”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kratie Province

2:30: Lakhon Bassac “Thnam Su Kom Heng Phop” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Cham Province.

5:00 Committee Meeting

8th Day: Thursday 25th February 2010

8:00 Lakhon Yike “Khun Hluong Prah Stach Kon” performed by Bodyguard Unit

10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Bandam Morakat” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Banteay Meanchey Province.

Evening:
2:30 Dance “Radovayattava Chor”performed by Khmer Art Institute

5:00 Committee Meeting.

9th Day: Friday 26 February 2010

8:00 Lakhon Bassac “Daravichhay Malay Sorya” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Kampot province

Evening
2:30 Lakhon Pleng Kar “Petibokleak” performed by Cambodian Living Arts

5:00 Committee Meeting

10th Day Saturday 27 February 2010

8:00 Lakhon Yike “Chab Cheab Kabbas” performed by Cambodian Living Arts

10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Preah Ko Bot Prah Sorya” Performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kandal Province

Evening

2:30 Lakhon Sromol Sbek Thom “Sokkacha” performed by Sovanna Phum Art Association

5:00 Committee Meeting

11th Day: Sunday 28th February 2010

8:30 Lakhon Sbek Por “Prah Thin Vong Neng Prah Neang Pov”performed by Khok Thlok Art Association

10:00 Lakhon Sbaek “Bhuddho” performed by Khmer Amatak association

5:00 Committee meeting

* * *

Notice:

Monday 1st March 2010
Full day: The committee will open the meeting to evaluate all art presentations and classify the competitive results.

Tuesday 02 March 2010
Full day: Celebration on (upcoming?) National Cultural Day and pubulication of results of theatre performance

Wednesday 03 March 2010
Celebrate the National Cultural Day 03/03/2010
Closing Festival of National Khmer Theatrical Performance, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen

Tags: cambodia,dance,khmer,theatre

I raise these hands up to you, Teacher, guru, of this song,
This melody, sung so long / Ago, before the Bo tree.

In your kind home you taught me / To chant Pali reverently,
Treat books with care, so gently, And to daily humbly pray

To the Three Jewels, our teachers / And all creatures, ’til the day
You and I must fade away, Die and decay, chasing peace.

Above: Khmer Arts Academy Performance, April 2009.

Last year when Trent Walker’s teacher (Prum Uth of Cambodian Living Arts) passed away, Trent was moved to write a song in English, sung in the meter of Smot chanting.

Smot is sung in Pali and Khmer, and an English approach demonstrates its vernacular utility. (Trent will be the first to admit that he’s not the world’s premiere Smot singer. However, in terms of innovation, he’s demonstrating some really interesting things about how we percieve this art form.)

Commonly, Smot is associated with funerals, but more broadly speaking it’s religious music, used for ceremonies, consecrations, healing, gift giving ceremonies and more. Get the full details on Trent’s blog.
http://ttwalker.blogspot.com/2010/02/lectureperformance-on-cambodian-dharma.html

Tags: cambodian,dance,khmer,smot

Final show this evening, tickets still available!
Our Andy Brouwer has the goss on last night: http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/belle-of-ball.html

SUON Bun Rith
AMRITA Performing Arts
#128 G9, Sothearos Blvd.
Sangkat Tonlé Bassac, Khan Chamcarmorn
PO Box 1140, Phnom Penh 12000, Cambodia
Tel. 023-220424
Fax. 023-220425
Cell. 012-410044
Skype. rithsb

rithsb@amritaperformingarts.org
www.amritaperformingarts.org

[from What's On]

New music from Laura Mam, listen and look:

From intro:This is my very first ORIGINAL KHMER SONG and this is only the beginning of an incredible journey. I have chosen to start writing original Khmer songs because of how many inspiring letters I have received from you lovely people about ending this tradition of copying, and finally re-sparking the great tradition of Khmer music.

I have composed this song and my dear sweet mother (Neak Madai), Thida Buth, has helped to write these lyrics. Pka Proheam Rik Popreay is a love song just in time for this Valentine’s day. Enjoy!!!

Everything from the recording of the music to the shooting of this music video was done by non-professional art-loving folks who I am DEEPLY IN DEBT TO. This is dedicated to the wonderful people who made this happen, all of you who inspire me, and to my homeland Cambodia. One thousand thank you’s to all the people who are a part of this magic.

Make sure to stay tuned for more, because I certainly have a lot more coming.

Love, Laura Tevary

What’s particularly interesting about this is that it’s quite clearly overseas (diasporic) music, but it’s aimed at pretty much anyone who wants to listen. Cambodia’s always had a fairly sharp division between local and overseas music, despite some well-intentioned efforts to break it down. This is reminiscent of other more internationalized Asian music scenes, let’s see what people think!

Lyrics are at http://lauramammusic.tumblr.com,
and check out her extensive backlog on YouTube.
http://ww.youtube.com/user/LauraMamMusic.

Postscript: Thanks to
Khmerbird, Kounila, Nearirath for reposting! Thanks to Prach for interview!