Samphor
The samphor (Template:Langx; also romanized as sampho) is a small, 2-headed barrel drum indigenous to Cambodia, approximately .35 meter wide by .5 meter long.<ref name=unesco>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=angelfire>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has two heads, with one drumhead being larger than the other and is played with both hands.<ref name=unesco/><ref name=angelfire/> Depending on the ability of the musician, the samphor can make as many as 8 different pitches.<ref name=unesco/> The player of the sampho leads the pinpeat (a classical ensemble of wind and percussion instruments), setting the tempo and beat.<ref name=angelfire/> It is also played at freestyle boxing evens, accompanying the sralai.<ref name=angelfire/> The samphor is analogous to the taphon used in Thailand.
The samphor is made by hollowing out a single block of wood into a barrel shape.<ref name=angelfire/> Both ends are covered with calfskin, tightened by strips of leather or rattan.<ref name=angelfire/> One head of the drum is larger than the other to allow differing tones.<ref name=angelfire/> Traditionally, the maker "tunes" each head by applying a circle of paste made of rice and ashes (from a palm); however a new resin paste is available today.<ref name=unesco/><ref name=angelfire/> The pitch to which the skin head is tuned becomes lower with a thicker layer of ash.<ref name=angelfire/>
The drummer makes use of four distinct strokes: an open and closed stroke for each head. Each of these four sounds has a Cambodian name:
- Open stroke, small head (ting)
- Closed stroke, small head (tip)
- Open stroke, large head (theung)
- Closed stroke, large head (tup)
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Video showing modern performance of "Apsara dance" music, with Pin harp, samphor drum (on table) and skor thom drums (on floor).
- Sampo at UMBC.edu. Photo of Master musician, Sum Tath.
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