Sampho
Encyclopedia
The samphor is a small barrel drum
indigenous to Cambodia
. It has two heads and is played with both hands. The player of the sampho leads the pinpeat
(a classical ensemble of wind and percussion instruments), setting the tempo and beat. 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. Both ends are covered with calfskin, tightened by strips of gut or rattan. One head of the drum is larger than the other to allow differing tones. The maker "tunes" each head by applying a circle of paste made of rice and ashes.
The drummer makes use of four distinct strokes: an open and closed stroke for each head.
Each of these four sounds has a Cambodia
n name:
Barrel drum
Barrel drums are a class of membranophone, or drum, characterized by a barrel-shape with a bulge in the middle. They are often one-headed and open at the bottom...
indigenous to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. It has two heads and is played with both hands. The player of the sampho leads the pinpeat
Pinpeat
The pinpeat orchestra or musical ensemble performs the ceremonial music of the royal cours and temples of Cambodia. The orchestra consists of approximately nine or ten instruments, mainly wind and percussion . It accompanies court dances, masked plays, shadow plays, and religious ceremonies...
(a classical ensemble of wind and percussion instruments), setting the tempo and beat. The samphor is analogous to the taphon
Taphon
thumb|200px|taphonThe taphon is a traditional drum of Thailand. It is barrel-shaped with two heads, and is played by the hands and fingers of both hands, much like the more popular congas....
used in Thailand
Culture of Thailand
The Culture of Thailand incorporates cultural beliefs and characteristics indigenous to the area known as modern day Thailand coupled with much influence from ancient India, China, Cambodia, along with the neighbouring pre-historic cultures of Southeast Asia...
.
The samphor is made by hollowing out a single block of wood into a barrel shape. Both ends are covered with calfskin, tightened by strips of gut or rattan. One head of the drum is larger than the other to allow differing tones. The maker "tunes" each head by applying a circle of paste made of rice and ashes.
The drummer makes use of four distinct strokes: an open and closed stroke for each head.
Each of these four sounds has a Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n name:
- Open stroke, small head (ting)
- Closed stroke, small head (tip)
- Open stroke, large head (theung)
- Closed stroke, large head (tup)