In Cambodia, angkuoch are found in several provinces both among the majority Khmer people and some ethnic minorities. Before the Khmer Rouge era (1975-1979), playing and enjoying angkuoch was a popular local pastime in village communities. However, angkuochis now highly endangered both as an instrument and as a performance practice.
Traditional social functions for playing angkuoch include as a rural pastime, as a way for young men to communicate and flirt with young women, and to accompany simple folk songs. Players and makers of angkuoch are typically men, though there appear to be no cultural restrictions on women playing or making the instruments.
There are at least three types of Cambodian angkuoch: one of bamboo (angkuoch russey), one of metal (angkuoch daek), and one that is stringed (angkuochksae). It is unclear whether there are any living instrument-makers who know how to produce angkuoch ksae.
Angkuoch russey is sometimes still found in village contexts, and is also produced as souvenirs for tourists. Angkuoch daek is almost non-existent in contemporary public life.
The project team is working with two rural village communities in Siem Riep province, where three instrument-makers have recently been identified. In Srah Srang Khang Choeung Village, Master KRAK Chi (69 years old) and his sons CHI Chen and CHI Monivong produce angkuoch russey.
The Process of Making an Iron Angkouch
