Survival and Change of Mahoree Tradition in Cambodian Society

Abstract

Problem statement: Mahoree, is an important music ensemble in Cambodia since the Angkorean period. Mahoree formerly belonged to the court or noble Cambodian families. Mahoree is very popular and practiced by ordinary people and plays an important role in Cambodian society. Mahoree is a culture of the community and the Cambodian society and can be preserved and promoted by community participation. Approach: This research was a qualitative research study. The research data was derived from document analysis and field research carried out between June, 2009-July, 2011. The instrument used included a basic survey forms, observations forms, interviews forms and focus-group discussions. The sampling group was made up of 27 key informants, 22 casual informants and 18 general informants. The research area includes Phnom Penh, Battambang province and Siem Reab province. This research aimed to 1. To study factors that affects the survival and changes of Mahoree ensemble in Cambodian society 2. To create guidelines for the conservation and promotion of Mahoree ensembles in Cambodia. Results: The changes affecting Mahoree come from internal and external influences of modern Cambodian society. External influence contributed significantly to the changes of Mahoree in Cambodian Society, such as modifying the playing methods, change of clothes, use of instruments from different cultures to mix and make the performance more appealing to modern audiences. The promotion and encouragement of Mahoree music instruments can be done by increasing the centers for learning Mahoree songs, learning about Mahoree music, the nature of the Mahoree music, the type of Mahoree music, the benefits of Mahoree, the song used in the rituals that require Mahoree and intellectual property rights and care for Mahoree artists. Encourage the singing of the Mahoree in music ensembles, promoting new songs, publishing Mahoree music with modern recording and musical notes, distribution of the songs, inspect and maintain the intellectual property rights of artists. Create a variety of teaching formats, promotion of youth music in various locations, promotion of learning Mahoree in state organizations and create Mahoree manual for teachers. Promote the importance of Mahoree instruments and production and distribution of teaching materials in various formats and encourage visitors to seek out knowledge about music. Conclusion: Factors that affected the survival and change of Mahoree ensemble in Cambodian society were learning and inherited of Mahoree culture from the past to the present and the signifying of the role of Mahoree in Cambodia. The guidelines for conservation and promotion or encouragement of Mahoree can be carried out in as many aspects as possible through community participation and by cooperation of government, private sectors and communities.