Mohaori
| Mohaori | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | មហោរី |
| Also known as | Mahori; Mohori; Mahaori; Vung Phleng Mohaori |
| Practice type | Performing art |
| Usual occasion | Celebrations and social events |
| Subjects | Music & Sound; Dance & Theatre |
Mohaori is a performing-art tradition practised in Cambodia and Khmer communities. (Wikipedia)
Practice
Mohaori is a Cambodian musical ensemble combining stringed, wind, and percussion instruments, including fiddles, zithers, flutes, xylophones, cymbals, and drums. Its music is generally soft and fluid, with songs and lyrics about nature, love, and everyday joys. Performances commonly alternate between a vocalist accompanied by drums and cymbals and the ensemble repeating the musical section instrumentally. (Wikipedia; Smithsonian Folkways)
History
The supplied sources describe Mohaori as having pre-Angkorian or possibly ninth-century origins, with the terms manohara and manohari appearing in Old Khmer inscriptions. It was associated with royal and aristocratic courts before becoming more widely performed, and its instruments and structure changed over time through combinations with Pinpeat and other ensembles. (Wikipedia; Smithsonian Folkways)
Variations
Mohaori has variable instrumentation and includes several forms, such as Pinpeat-instrument, stringed-instrument, Royal, large, and modified ensembles. Historical and contemporary groups may differ according to available musicians, instruments, patronage, and whether they perform in court or popular settings. (Wikipedia; Smithsonian Folkways)
Communities and practitioners
Mohaori has been performed by court musicians, men and women, wealthy families, and wider Cambodian communities. Contemporary performances described in the supplied text include minimalist ensembles in the Siem Reap temple area, including musicians who are victims of landmines. (Wikipedia; Smithsonian Folkways)