Pinpeat

The Pinpeat (Khmer: ពិណពាទ្យ, pronounced [pin peːat]) is the principal ensemble that accompanies Cambodian royal ceremonies, classical dance dramas (such as the Reamker), shadow puppet theater (Sbek Thom), and certain religious rituals. It is comparable to the Piphat ensemble of Thailand and the Hsaing Waing ensemble of Myanmar.

The Pinpeat orchestra is characterized by its use of percussive instruments, particularly gongs, xylophones, drums, and wind instruments. While the specific instrumentation can vary depending on the occasion and region, some instruments are almost always present. These typically include the roneat ek (a curved keyboard xylophone), roneat thung (a lower-pitched xylophone), skor thom (large drums), sampho (double-headed drum), chhing (cymbals), sralai (quadruple-reed oboe), and various sizes of kong vong (gong circles).

The ensemble's role is to provide rhythmic and melodic accompaniment, setting the mood and accentuating the movements of the dancers or the action of the narrative. It serves as an integral part of Cambodian performing arts traditions and is considered a culturally significant element of Cambodian heritage. The music created by the Pinpeat is often complex, with intricate interplay between the different instruments, requiring significant skill and training from the musicians. The preservation and performance of Pinpeat music are important for maintaining Cambodian cultural identity.