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Cambodian Traditional Music:Loeung Preah Punlea

Listening to calm and peaceful music offers our mind and body a restorative break from the pressures of daily life by promoting a sense of well-being and uplifting our overall mood. That is exactly how I feel when I listen to Loeung Preah Punlea, a traditional song from Cambodia. The tune, which means “on the gazebo,” is one of the most famous pieces of Khmer music. It is characterized by a clear, vibrant rhythm, and can often be heard in dance dramas. Loeung Preah Punlea is performed with the traditional Cambodian instruments roneataek and khloy.

The roneataek is a xylophone-like instrument made of twenty-one woodcuts, or bamboo plates. The thickness of each plate is different, thereby creating a different note when struck. The khloy is a flute-like wind instrument typically made of bamboo, or some other wood. As the delicate notes floatgently past your ears, you may feel your stress melting away as you envision, perhaps, the lush Cambodian countryside with its rugged peaks shrouded infine mists.

If you’re curious about Loeung Preah Punleaor the instruments roneataek and khloy, scan the QR code. It directs to a video on the KF ASEAN Culture House’s YouTube channel.