On the evening of November 11, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province, in coordination with the Vietnam Record Organization VietKings, organized the "The largest Khmer Five-tone Music Performance Program in Soc Trang province in Vietnam".
The program will feature 20 Pentatonic orchestras with 200 artists and musicians performing songs such as sorya, a-le, hon-zot, khlom and Rom Vong krom dong khe. This is one of the activities within the framework of the 6th Ooc om boc - Ngo boat racing festival in Soc Trang, Mekong Delta region and the 1st Soc Trang Culture, Sports and Tourism Week in 2024.
Speaking at the program, Mr. Tran Minh Ly - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province - said that in recent times, from the Programs and policies for ethnic minority areas, the Department has invested funds to purchase many Ngu am sets to support Khmer clubs and pagodas in the province; organized many training and fostering classes, providing Khmer ethnic children with more basic knowledge and understanding of this unique art form.
"Setting a record for the program will contribute to promoting and introducing local cultural heritages to domestic and foreign tourists," said Mr. Ly.
The record will be officially announced on November 13, 2024 within the framework of the opening ceremony of the 6th Soc Trang Ooc Om Boc - Ngo Boat Racing Festival, Mekong Delta region and the 1st Soc Trang Culture, Sports and Tourism Week in 2024.
Traditional Khmer Pentatonic Music is an orchestra composed of 5 sets of instruments made from 5 different materials creating 5 distinct timbres: brass, iron, woodwind, wind and leather.
Traditionally, Pentatonic Music is a type of musical ensemble with a religious ritual nature, closely associated with Theravada Buddhist rituals and activities in Khmer pagodas and villages.
