If asked who was/is the most famous singer in Cambodia, the answer would be
unequivocally, and maybe unanimously, Sin Sisamouth. Though he was tragically
taken from this world, his soul, spirit, and emotions are echoed in the legacy
of songs he had bequeathed us with, and for this reason, his life is eternal. There exists various opinions with regard to the popularity incited by his
songs. Some claim it is because of his unique voice that could sustain the
highest and lowest pitch without changing or cracking. Some argue that is
because the new generation has not yet produced a talent comparable to him
while others think it's because songs composed for and sang by Sin Sisamouth
were made possible by the help of good composers. A good song is one whose
lyrics deal with the mundane, everyday situation, and for this reason, a good
writer is a requirement. Furthermore, the singer must be able to put emotion
into the lyrics, together with his voice and melody, all combined to touch the
heart and soul of the people exposed to it. All of these characteristics were
possessed by Sin Sisamouth, and expound the popularity his songs have enjoyed. Due to the on-going war filled with much destruction, many talented and
gifted people have vanished, a subsequent considerable loss of art and cultural
resources the young generation encounters, have yet to rebuild or recover from.
Not only that they have disappeared, but not much of their living years were
known due to lack of records, another regretful fact. Presently, many are
trying to revive their history as much as they can of these artists. These
interests were provoked when Reasmey Kampuchea Newspaper Volume 1 No 3 devoted
in their cultural page a brief history and works of Sin, Sisamouth. The article
invoked many requests from readers both in and out of the country for the Khmer
media to feature more biography and works of famous artists and movie stars. This article will try to reconstruct the events occurring in the life of
Sin, Sisamouth from a very young age to the time he was disappeared during the
Khmer Rouge regime. The reconstruction will be given in chronological order
about his life, love, work, and talent, is based on accounts given by witnesses
whose names and addresses will be given at the end of the article.
A Childhood of Sin
Sisamouth
Sin Sisamouth was born in 1935, the year of
the Rooster, in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia, to the proud father Sin Leang
and mother Seb Bunlei who was a Lao-Chinese, normally recognized as Khmer
Stung Treng. If he were to live today he would be 61 years old. As the
youngest son, he also had a brother and two sisters. His father worked as a
the head of a prison in Battambang Province, and when he became a soldier
during the French Revolution, Sisamouth was around 6 or 7 years old. Later
when his dad died of disease, his mom remarried, and the union resulted in
two more children. Sin Sisamouth attended Central Province of Stung Treng
Elementary School when he was 5. The first spark of talent showed when he
began to take interests in learning to play guitar at the age of 6 or 7.
The Destiny from Birth
The child, Sin Sisamouth, was a
kind kid full of emotion that easily had the sympathy for others. He liked
kind people with soft and sweet voice. He also loved his brothers and
sisters. Reticent in nature, he visited temple and talked with monks in his
spare time. Subsequently he learned Phalli from the monks and knew Buddhist's
scripture, Thoar, since he was young. Besides his interest in music, he
enjoyed reading books. For sports, he liked playing soccer and flying kites.
His favorite foods range from waterless soup with meat to fried eggs without
much care for vegetables.
Academically,
he was a good student who was well liked by both teachers and classmates. Hi
musical talents started to bud while he was in school, and often, he would be
asked to perform at school functions. By the time he was around 15-16, he had
passed elementary or "Certificat D'etude Primaire". At this time,
he had an option of either joining the work force or pursuing further
education to strengthen his skills. He opted for a career in medical field,
and moved to Phnom Penh for that purpose in 1950-51.
Samouth as a Teenager
During his years in medical
school, he resided with his uncle in Phnom Penh. The decision to join this
profession was his alone, and was not at all due to the pressure or
persistence from his parents. Needless to say, his parents were very much
supportive of their son's choice. But unfortunately, when they heard of his
voice through the radio, they weren't too happy about it. Even with the
rigorous demands of medical school, Sin Sisamouth still managed to find time
to learn how to sing and compose songs. With the support of friends with
similar skills and interests, he become well-known within the school in less
than a year as a poetic kid with great musical skills and singing talent.
During school year, he
rarely went out places due to the fact that he lived with his uncle and the
amount of money that he received from his parents was very little just enough
to spend on school supplies. Therefore, he spent most of the time researching
songs and learning how to sing by himself. His good natural voice made people
around him interested in his talent. Even though, while he was in school, he
was frequently asked to sing in many special ceremonies.
Due to the popularity
his voice had received, he was asked to the join the National Radio as its
regular singer when Cambodia received its independence from France in 1953.
Meanwhile, he continued his study in medical field in Pheah Ketokmala
hospital.
His Marriage
According to different Newspaper
sources, Sin Sisamouth was never known to have a clear, love relationship.
Because he was full of ambitions and was dedicated to his career and his
hobbies, i.e., singing and composing music, he didn't have time for romance.
Reportedly, most of the relationships were friendly ones. After finishing his
medical school, his married his cousin, Keo Thorng Gnut, through the
arrangement of his parents and elders. This union produced 4 children. After
the Khmer Rouge reign, only a daughter and who sons survived, while a son was
perished.
Sin Sisamouth's pubic
life become very well-known. But fame has its prices. His private life
deteriorated as a consequence due to the pressures of his career demanded and
also the temptations that his voice attracted. With regard to the relationship
with his wife, one of his sons, Sin Chaya, commented that no woman in this
world who had the strongest emotion, i.e. love, could withstand these prices.
At the age of 30, his wife become a nun.
The Talent of Sin Sisamouth in the
Art of Singing and Composing
When Sin Sisamouth’s songs were
played on the radio, not only was his priceless voice on display, but his
other remarkable talents as well. His first talent was the art of composing
music for his songs. Samouth would use the Mandolin to search for rhythms to
songs he was thinking of composing, and only later did he match lyrics to
these rhythms. His songs were usually of a sentimental nature, presenting in
musical form the longings, pains and pleasures of romantic endeavors. His
genius for words enabled his lyrics to arouse the emotions of all those who
listened to his songs.
Samouth’s talent in writing lyrics was a result of hard
work as well as natural genius. He was known to have utilized up to three
different dictionaries in searching for just the right word in the Khmer,
Sanskrit or Pali language to include in his songs. When he wrote, Samouth put
forth everything he knew into writing a song. If a certain part of a song was
not just right, he would consult his dictionaries to find words which would
better convey the precise meaning or feeling he wanted to convey. This
meticulous attention to detail resulted in song lyrics which projected
exactly what Samouth intended--which is another reason for the immense
popularity of his songs.
Samouth’s most famous talent was
his incredible singing ability. He was endowed with a heavenly voice that was
neither too harsh nor too husky--it was always the perfect pitch. When he
sang, each word he crooned was always clear and distinct. He would pronounce
each word he sang precisely as it was written, without the slightest
deviation from its proper pronunciation.
Samouth’s sweet, tender voice
gained him a reputation which made him the most popular singer of his time.
His fame and success led His Royal Majesty Treyany to ask him to work for the
king’s band, which he did until 1970. He performed not only modern songs with
his band, but ancient, traditional music such as Sak Krova, Mahori, Ayai,
Chapei, Yekea, and Basak as well. During his time, the popularity and
prestige of Samouth’s voice was such that he was considered by far the best
singer in the nation--no one came close to even being considered second best.
In fact, other singers at the time were simply ranked third, forth, etc.,
bypassing the number two ranking altogether.
His Personality and Profession
Sin Sisamouth was a person with a
firm personality who was known to be very serious about his work. Kruoch
Polin, a publisher of song and music books, stated that Samouth was a person
who kept his word. He would always deliver what he promised. At home, Samouth
was known to be a quiet man. Some people observed that sometimes he would not
speak more than ten words in an entire day. When he was not performing,
Samouth would lock himself in his room and dedicate his time to writing more
songs. His failure to socialize with his neighbors contributed to a
reputation for being elitist and haughty.
As his popularity increased,
Samouth was in such high demand that he devoted himself to mostly performing
songs composed by others. He initially picked songs written by Pov Sipho,
Svay Som Eur, and Ma Laopi, but he would also occasionally sing songs
composed by Mae Bunn, a close friend of his, and Has Salorn. Between 1970 and
1975, he almost exclusively sang songs written by Voy Ho. Regardless of who
had written the songs, Samouth always managed to make them popular.
When he was not working, Samouth
would still devote time to writing songs which depicted his life experiences
or the experiences of his friends. He also possessed the unique ability to
compose songs based on requests from his audience to express their personal
experiences and sentiments in musical form.
His Interests
Samouth was generally considered
to be a very serious person. He neither spoke nor joked around needlessly. He
behaved in this serious manner with his wife as well as with friends and
strangers. When he spoke, he spoke about business. Similar to other musicians
and singers, he had several friends in the ministry’s band. His friends at
the beginning of his career were songwriters such as Mao Saret, Seang Dee,
and Sous Mat. His very close friends were Mae Bunn, in whom Samouth had the
utmost trust, and Siv Sunn
Sin Sisamouth was a avid fan of
cock-fighting, so much so that he himself raised fighting birds. In his spare
time, he would play betting games with some of his friends. He exercised
regularly as well by lifting weights every morning. His other interests
included reading books at the library and watching French movies at the Luch
or Prom Bayon movie theatre. At night, after he finished performing, Samouth
would meet with friends to eat rice porridge. He allegedly had contracts with
three different restaurants in Phnom Penh in which he was paid 1500 Riels to
sing two or three songs--quite a lot of money considering a bowl of noodles
cost a mere 5 Riels at the time. He usually sang at Kbal Thmor Bar, Neak Bagn
Teak Bar, and a bar currently located next to the Interior Ministry.
Samouth was not a picky eater. He
generally prefered to eat Lao food. When he ate Khmer food, he liked to eat
Pror-huk and Phork Tpul Trey. Under no circumstances did he drink wine or
soft drinks, eat chili peppers, or smoke cigarettes. According to Seang
Vanthy, Samouth delighted in those who were considered the new generation of
singers in his time. He always freely gave them advice and reminded them to
take care of their voices. His affable, caring attitude thus won him favor
among his contemporaries.
Despite his prodigious talents, Sin Sisamouth made only a
moderate income from singing. Although not quite wealthy, his success did
eventually enable him to trade in his sky blue Volkswagen for a blue Mercedes
220D. Overall however, he lived a fairly simple life and committed a lot of
time and effort into his work. He recorded albums for Chann Chaya and Heng
Heng recording companies and wrote songs for movies produced by other
production companies.
Even though his dedication to
music was absolute and his talents were in high demand, Samouth only
accumulated a modest income for someone so famous. Although he was the most
popular singer of his time, he made just enough to provide for his family. By
no means could he afford what would be considered an opulent lifestyle. Since
his hard work and vast musical talents only enabled him to earn a moderate
income, Samouth forbade his children from walking the same path as he. He
explained to his son Chaya that the singing profession was not valued; and,
even though his children had shown signs of talent in the field, Samouth
never encouraged, much less taught, his children about the art of music and
singing.
No one has
collected enough data to ascertain the number of songs Samouth sang. He
recorded a huge amount of songs--according to his son Chaya, the number
roughly corresponds to the number of days Samouth was famous.
Kruorch
Bunly, a publisher of song and music books, stated that, from 1972 to 1973,
he published a song book called "A Collection of Sentimental Songs"
which contained 500 songs exclusively sung by Sin Sisamouth. This book
contained only songs Samouth sold to one particular production company. Until
1972, however, he had sold songs to several production companies, and sources
indicate that he actually sold thousands of songs. Kruorch Bunly also asserts
that before the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Samouth just
finished recording about a thousand more songs. Only recently have those
songs been released.
It is
difficult to rank Sin Sisamouth’s songs due to their diversity in meaning and
uniqueness. According to critiques which have been written, not only were
many of Samouth’s songs of excellent quality, but not one was reported to be
of poor quality. He would even improved other people’s songs when he sang
them. He was very diligent with his songs, which gave them their unique
qualities. Samouth would only sing songs by select writers and perform with
certain bands. He would not sing with bands which were new or in which he did
not have confidence.
Many of
Samouth’s works still sound good on the radio and in cassette tapes copied
from the original. In fact, the copies are openly sold in various market.
Some production companies have made new recordings of Samouth’s old songs
using new singers and new bands with modern equipment. Although many
listeners like the modern music in the new recordings, they acknowledge that
the voices of the new singers can not and do not compare with that of Sin
Sisamouth. Thus, the new versions of Samouth’s songs could not compete with
the popularity of the originals--prompting production companies to search for
old recordings made by Heng Heng and Chann Chaya Productions and record them
onto Compact Discs. From 70 to 100 percent of the sound quality could be
saved.
One of the
companies which has worked to restore and record original Sin Sisamouth songs
onto CD is Reasmey Phean Meas. The producer, Sam Sovandeth, was informed by
an aunt that old recordings had been placed in an archive in Singapore. He
researched and found about 2000 old songs duplicated and stored in the
archive. Among the recordings found included songs sung by Sin Sisamouth,
Suos Mat, Im Sung Serng, Meas Samorn, Ta Saluort, Ros Serey Sothear, Pen Ron,
Huoy Meas, etc. Regrettably, about 70% of the songs found were completely
defective and could not be reproduced. Sam Sovandeth selected the ones of
good quality and, using new technology, reproduced them onto CD, thereby
preserving these works for future generations of listeners.
Today,
many Sin Sisamouth fans criticize companies which reproduce his songs and the
songs of other singers of his generation. They argue that the producers
unjustifiably profit off the voices of these deceased singers and note that
the producers fail to request permission from or give royalties to the
singers’ families. These critics also suggest that the Cambodian government
and organizations which work to preserve Khmer art should benefit from the sale
of these songs. Instead, commercial producers, rather than government art
preservation agencies or the families of these singers, reap the financial
rewards of these singers’ talents.
His Songs
According
to a close friend of Samouth’s, quite a few of his songs expressed emotional
reactions to events which happened to him. Other songs were written at
friends’ requests, to remember occurrences in their lives. The song Oudom
Dueng Chet, for instance, was an expression of Samouth’s deep feelings of
regret during a period of time when his wife had temporarily left him. Ohn
Chea Tevy Duorng Chet, on the other hand, is a song which tells of Samouth’s
secret love for a woman who possessed a higher social status than he.
Min
Baj Ray Rab Brab Teat Te was an international song which Samouth modified
to express his feelings for a woman with whom he had had a romantic
relationship. In the song, Samouth chastises the woman for her insincerity
and dishonesty. Sluk
Chaee ("Leaf") was a song of General Saksut Sakorn, sung by Sin
Sisamouth, and later became popular as the song Somroung Chung Kal, sung by
Has Salorn.
Cham Churb
Reul Tgnai Lich was written by Voy Ho when he was in love with Dara Chourm
Chann. Samouth personally plays the mandolin in this song, which can be
clearly heard before he begins singing the first stanza.
Chamreang
Et Preang Tuk is a song written by Pov Sipho, a friend of Samouth’s, to
describe an incident where he serendipitously met a woman at a restaurant.
This song was performed in a movie of the same title starring Chea Yutthorn,
Vicharadany and Ros Serey Sothear. The movie was produced by Sin Sisamouth
himself and played at the Haem Chaet Theater.
Pael
Reathrey is a work of the king of Cambodia, recounting his visits to
France and Hong Kong. Samouth sings this song with Keo Setha. Samouth himself
brought back about 25 songs from his travels such as Sdab Snour Teak Pleang, Lea
Hei Paris, Antoniata, Mareny, Munde, Viyoleta, and Reathrey Nov Hong Kong.
Regardless of whether he was in Cambodia or elsewhere, Samouth always
possessed the ability to immortalize his experiences in song.
The Death of Sin Sisamouth
After the
coup d’état against Cambodia’s royal government on March 18, 1970, Sin
Sisamouth broke away from the king’s band and moved to Office No. 5 in the
Chief Command Ministry of the new Khmer Republic. He worked in Office No. 5
for one year and joined the Ministry Band with the rank of Lieutenant. He had
risen to the rank of Captain in the military by the time the Khmer Rouge took
over the country. When the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975,
along with the millions of other residents, Samouth was forced to leave the
city.
Samouth
left Phnom Penh along National Route No. 1 with his second wife, a dancer in
the royal ballet. He first wife and two children chose to travel along Ta
Khmao Route to La-ang Prek Touch. According to Searng Vanthy, they met at Wat
Champa along National Route No. 1 with Has Salorn, Bich Soloen and
Vicharadany, the movie star. Samouth’s relatives suggested he continues his
journey to section 22, but he refused due to the fact that his wife was
having a second child.
One
evening, Sin Sisamouth decided to ask Has Salorn to go back to Phnom Penh
with him and work for the Khmer Rouge government, then known as Democratic
Kampuchea. Has Salorn disagreed with the plan and refused to go. Samouth
decided he would travel back to Phnom Penh anyhow. Due to health problems and
his wife’s pregnancy however, he was unable to continue the trip. The
information we uncovered ended the story of Sin Sisamouth here.
There are
many rumors concerning Sin Sisamouth’s death. It is not known for certain
that he died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, but some people propose that
the Khmer Rouge may have killed him along the road between Wat Champa and
Phnom Penh, since most Cambodians who tried to return to Phnom Penh were
killed. Only industry workers who possessed skills useful to the Khmer Rouge
were spared; but when they outlived their usefulness, they too were
butchered. Before the Khmer Rouge killed him, some people claim Samouth
requested he be allowed to sing a song. He expressed himself as sincerely as
possible through his music, but the Khmer Rouge soldiers were unmoved, and,
after he finished singing, they killed him anyhow.
Other
people claim that Samouth died in Siem Reap, Kompong Cham, or Preah Vihear
province. Some people even believe that he was killed in Tuol Sleng prison.
Although his family and relatives are uncertain as to what really happened to
Samouth, they are certain of one thing--that he has passed away. If he were
alive, they argue, he would contact them no matter where he was now residing.
Of Sin Sisamouth’s three living
children, only one has decided to make singing a profession. Sin Chaya,
Samouth’s son, is currently a singer for the Cambodian Radio. He himself
admits, however, that his singing cannot compare to that of his talented father.
The only thing Sin Chaya claims to have inherited from Samouth was the desire
and destiny to be a professional singer.
Sin
Sisamouth has left Khmers everywhere a legacy of glorious songs expressing an
enormous range of sentiments. The man with the golden voice lives on in the
hearts of all those who continue to listen to, appreciate, and admire his
music.
Chea Vichea was the leader of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) until his assassination on Chinese New Year, 22 January 2004. Following his death, he was succeeded in his position at the FTUWKC by his younger brother Chea Mony.
Vichea was shot in the head and chest early in the morning while reading a newspaper at a kiosk in Daun Penh district, Phnom Penh.
He had recently been dismissed by the INSM Garment Factory (located in
the Chum Chao District of Phnom Penh) as a reprisal for helping to
establish a trade union at the company. He also had close affiliations with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Investigation
Chea Vichea's monument in Phnom Penh, Sihanouk Blvd, statue
A few days after Vichea's killing, and facing mounting criticism for
their failure to act, Cambodian authorities arrested two men and charged
them with the murder.
The first, Born Samnang, was arrested in Prey Veng Province and transferred to Phnom Penh
overnight. He initially admitted to the killing but then publicly
retracted, claiming to have been tortured into confessing. Multiple
eyewitnesses have placed Born Samnang in a different part of the country
at the time of the murder.
The second suspect, Sok Sam Oeun, has consistently denied any
involvement and also has alibis placing him in a party with friends at
the time of the murder.
The criminal investigation was done by Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork
district police and plagued by irregularities. Officers focused on
threatening and rounding up those who provided alibis for the suspects,
while witnesses were intimidated.
On 22 March 2004, the case's Investigating Judge,
Hing Thirith, threw out the charges against the two men, citing a lack
of evidence against them and weak credibility of the police
investigation .
The next day, Hing Thirith was removed from his position at the Phnom
Penh Municipal Court, and his decision to drop charges was subsequently
overturned on 1 June 2004 by the Appeals Court Presiding Judge Thou Mony
The trial took place more than a year after the murder while Born
Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun remained in custody in Phnom Penh, despite a
Cambodian legal limitation that no one be detained without trial for
longer than six months. The case has been taken up by both national and
international organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and ILO.
Trial
A 10th anniversary memorial service was held for Chea Vichea on January
22, 2014. It was arranged by garment workers and joined by the opposition.
On 1 August 2005, the Phnom Penh Municipal Courts delivered a
judgment which was highly criticized by both local and international
organizations, who deemed it unfair and politically biased rather than
based on independent and reasonable judgment.
Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang were judged guilty after a trial where
no witnesses testified against the accused and no forensic evidence was
brought to court. Both individuals were sentenced to 20 years in prison
and ordered to pay $5,000 compensation each to the family of the victim.
Chea Vichea's family turned down the compensation, stating that they did not believe the two convicted were the real murderers.
Nhok Them born on June 22 1903 in Por, Sangke. My Father and Mother Hill Khmer farmers in the commune Village district, Battambang province.Childhood and studiesChildhood, in 1913 he went to Wat Sangke. He studied by teachers and studied law by Rabbi Silk Touch at Wat Po.In 1918 he was bapvochchea (vegetarian) samner. As samner He studied law and Bali by other teachers in the province. He also went to study abroad in 1919, he continued professionalism in Bangkok, Thailand. He was senior diploma courses during 1921 and cheabsanhnheabt senior courses Major in 1923. In 1924, he ubasambt a monk and in the same year he graduated briyotte Bali 3 sentences. Two
years later, 1926, he was 4 sentences and two years afterwards (1928) 5
sentences and an end, he was 6-year sentence in 1929. Please
note that the Pali language study in Thailand has a total of 9 sentence
(or floor) sentences 9 is the highest sentence (PhD). He had to leave the precepts of the laity in 1936.jobWhen he went to study in Thailand, he also worked there. Pali language teacher in Bangkok from. .1927 Vs. .1930 Recently returned back to Phnom Penh Join a committee member turned Buddhist Tripitaka. In 1938 he worked in the royal library functions fullest publishing publications kampouchsoriyea. In
the following year (1939) he represented Prince Norodom Sothearos and
presided over the Buddhist city with other representatives, to prepare a
curriculum and Buddhist ceremony in the city of Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos. 1942 he inaugurated Hussein Academy Soc southern Vietnam and 1943, he
represented the organizers for Buddhist Studies in Pakse, Laos.Koulap Khmer professor in the 5th grade of the Normal in 1945. In 1946 he worked at the Buddhist Institute and a professor at Sisowath High School. But
in 1950 he resigned from the Buddhist enter
krasuongseksaeathikear_cheate transfer after the French Lycee Sisowath, a
national treasure and a professor until the contract. Six years later, in 1956, he moved to work as a professor Khmer Boulevard City. But
in 1958 he moved to work in vityeasthean_cheate_kroukaosal Penh as a
professor and literary authors document Khmer Institute . He is a professor of Khmer RSA.
Samdech Sangha Raja Jhotañano Chuon Nath (1 March 1883 – 25 September 1969) is the late Kana MahanikayaSupreme Patriarch of Cambodia. Amongst his achievements is his effort in conservation of the Khmer language in the form of the Khmer dictionary. His protection of Khmer
identity and history in the form of the national anthem, Nokor Reach
and Savada Khmer are also amongst his contribution to the country.
Som Dech Nath was the head of a reformist movement in the Khmer
Buddhist Sangha which developed a rationalist-scholastic model of
Buddhism, rooted in linguistic studies of the Pali Canon. This new
movement, known as Dhammayuttika Nikaya, influenced young Khmer monks in the early 20th century.[1] The new movement also cultivated Khmer-language identity and culture, giving rise to the notion of Cambodian nationalism.
Nath pushed for a series of innovations in the Khmer Sangha beginning
in the early twentieth century: the use of print for sacred texts
(rather than traditional methods of hand-inscribing palm-leaf
manuscripts); a higher degree of expertise in Pali and Sanskrit studies
among monks; a vision of orthodoxy based on teaching of Vinaya texts for
both monks and lay-people; and modernization of teaching methods for
Buddhist studies.
He also oversaw the translation of the entire Buddhist Pali canon
into Khmer language; and the creation of the first modern Khmer language
dictionary.
The French set up its protectorate over Cambodia and intended to
replace the Khmer language with its own through the so-called
"pseudo-French intellectuals." This intention rallied many Cambodian
scholars to the course of conserving the Khmer language; one such
scholar was Nath. A son of farmers who later became a monk, Nath dedicated his life to upholding Buddhism and the conservation of Khmer language in the country that was highly influenced by French colonialism.
He had an extensive knowledge of the Khmer language. He was probably
the most famous and most knowledgeable monk Cambodia had ever had. A
master in Buddha’s
teaching, he was very well known around the Buddhism circle as well as
very adept at languages. Throughout his life he encouraged the use of
"Khmerization" in both public education and religions. What Nath meant
by "Khmerization" was he wanted to derive new Khmer words from its
ancestral roots, the Pali and Sanskrit
languages. For example, when the train arrived first in Cambodia, there
was no Khmer word for the train. Nath thus derived the word for train
from Sanskrit and Pali word of Ayomoyo which means something that is made of metal. Together with the word Yana which means vehicle, came the Khmer word for train which we know today as Ayaksmeyana, pronounced Ayak-smey-yean.
However, Nath’s Khmerization was not overall accepted by all Khmers. Scholars such as Keng Vannsak
who were pro-French did not find the kind of Khmer words derived from
Pali and Sanskrit to be convenient. They revolutionized another kind of
derivation which they want to adopt normalized French word into Khmer
vocabulary. The only major change was to use Khmer alphabet to write the
word rather than using the Roman alphabets used by the French. But
despite opposition, Nath’s Khmerization succeeded. He was a member of
the original committee granted royal order to compile a Khmer dictionary
in 1915 and was credited as the founder of the dictionary as he pushed
for and finally succeeded in printing the first edition of the current
Khmer dictionary in 1938. In 1967, he was elevated to the rank of doctor.
Nath’s other contribution to Cambodia include the current national anthem, Nokor Reach, for which he composed both music and lyrics.Nokor Reach was written to correspond to the motto of the nation,
"Nation, Religion, King" as well as demonstrate the grandeur and the
mighty past of the Khmer nation.
Psychedelic rock
Garage rock
Kbach
Romvong
Saravan
Blues
Bossa Nova
Film Music
Classical Khmer Music
Occupation(s)
Singer
Years active
1967–1975
Associated acts
Sinn Sisamouth
Huoy Meas
Eng Nary
Im Song Seum
In Yeng
Chea Savoeun
Pan Ron
Dara Choumchan
Ros Sothea was born in 1948[ to Ros Bun and Nath Samien in Battambang Province. Growing up relatively poor, Ros Sothea was the second youngest of five children, included her older sister, activist Ros Saboeut She displayed vocal talent as a toddler and grew up listening to early Cambodian singers such as Mao Sareth and Chunn Malai which doubtlessly had a profound influence.
Sothea's talent would remain relatively hidden until friends
persuaded her to join a regional singing contest in 1963. After winning
the contest she gained the attention and praise of the province and was
invited to join Lomhae Yothea (a musical troupe) which regularly performed at Stung Khiev Restaurantin Battambang. It is believed that Im Song Seurm a singer from the National Radio, heard of Sothea's talents and invited her to the capital, Phnom Penh, in 1967.
Music career
In Phnom Penh, she adopted the alias Ros Sereysothea and became a singer for the National Radio performing duets with Im Song Seurm. Her first hit, Stung Khieu (Blue River)
debuted the same year and she quickly attracted fans with her clear and
high pitch voice. Eventually she became a regular partner with Sinn Sisamouth
the lead singer of the era, and they were a smashing success. She also
performed with other prominent singers of the era such as Pan RonHouy Meas , and Sos Mat
The style of her early career is characterized by traditional
Cambodian ballads and duets. She would eventually shift to a more
contemporary style by combining romantic ballads drenched in loss,
betrayal, and death with Western instruments. This change of style can
most likely be attributed to her traumatic marriage with fellow singer, Sos Mat.
By the 1970s, American influence from neighboring South Vietnam
had reached Cambodia and Sothea, along with her contemporaries, began
experimenting in Western genres. Her high, clear voice, coupled with the
rock backing bands featuring prominent, distortion-laden lead guitars,
pumping organ and loud, driving drums, made for an intense, sometimes
haunting sound that is best described today as psychedelic or garage rock. Like the leader of the music scene, Sinn Sisamouth, Sothea would often take popular Western rock tunes, such as John Fogerty's "Proud Mary" and refashion them with Khmer lyrics.
Yet romantic ballads would remain her most endearing work amongst the
more conservative populace. She was often sought out by film directors
to perform the duet and/or solo in their movies. Sothea's collaboration
with the Cambodian film industry is invaluable in identifying over 250
films lost during the communist regime.
Sothea never sang under any one record label and made a modest living
as a musician. She is recognized as a national treasure and was honored
by King Norodom Sihanouk with the royal title of "Preah Reich Theany Somlang Meas", the "Golden Voice of the Royal Capital".
From her brief relationship with a Khmer Republic parachutist and
General Srey Ya, Sothea increasingly became involved in the military. As
the Khmer Republic struggled in the civil war, Sothea and Sisamouth and
their contemporaries published patriotic songs for the fledgling
republic. Her career would continue until the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh in April 1975.
Sothea's personality is invariably described as modest and reserved.
She is known to have been involved in a few relationships throughout her
life. When she arrived in Phnom Penh, she was courted by fellow singer
Sos Mat and eventually married. Unfortunately Mat was already legally
married to two other wives. As her career moved forward, Sos Mat became
insanely jealous of her success and of the men who came to watch her
perform. Traumatized by the emotional abuse from the constant envy of
his other wives and the domestic violence from Sos Mat, they separated
within six months of marriage. With her name ruined as a result of the
divorce, her only option was to return to her family in Battambang. It
would only be with intervention and help from Sinn Sisamouth that she
resumed her career in Phnom Penh.
Despite the high-profile divorce with Sos Mat, Sothea's popularity
resurged and she met the son of the famous Van Chan film company as part
of her contract recording film songs. Their marriage resulted in a son
but for undocumented reasons they separated. She is also noted to have
had a relationship with a parachutist of the Khmer Republic. General
Srey Ya of Lon Nol's government, who was extremely infatuated with her,
ended up holding her against her will in one incident. Sothea's unsteady
relationships may have been the inspiration behind her most depressing
ballads.
Fall of Phnom Penh
It is believed that Sothea had traveled to Pailin Province
for the Buddhist New Year in 1975. Some of her final recordings are
those celebrating the New Year in Pailin. Many are skeptical of this
claim as it had been increasingly dangerous to travel outside Phnom Penh
due to the encirclement of Khmer Rouge forces. When Phnom Penh fell,
there were apparently attempts by military personnel to evacuate Sothea
out of the country. Like everyone else when the Khmer Rouge took over, she was forced to leave Phnom Penh. There are many speculations regarding her fate from a variety of witnesses.
Sothea was initially able to hide her identity well as she was from
the Cambodian countryside and adjusted well, contrary to most of the
"New People". The survivors from her camp didn't even know she was
amongst them until she secretly confided with them. Eventually she was
discovered and was forced by Pol Pot
to marry one of his assistants in 1977. As a prolific singer, Sothea
was forced to exclusively perform songs for the new regime.
Her new marriage was an unhappy one marred by physical abuses.
Eventually the disputes got out of hand and the Khmer Rouge cadre of her
village decided she was more trouble alive. She was told that she and
her family would be moved to another village and she was last seen by
survivors departing by ox cart. She then disappeared under typically
mysterious circumstances and is almost certainly dead.
Other accounts believe that she died from being overworked in a Khmer
Rouge agricultural camp. Another account even says that she was still
alive when the Vietnamese invading forces arrived in Phnom Penh in 1979
but died of malnutrition shortly after in a hospital.
As a high profile individual and a musician, she was a prime
candidate for extermination during Pol Pot’s regime. Her two surviving
sisters insist that Sothea, along with their mother and children, were
taken to Kampong Som province and executed immediately following the Fall of Phnom Penh. Her remains have yet to be discovered. Legacy
with the cultural upheaval by the Khmer Rouge, scant evidence of Ros
Serey Sothea's life remains. Her master recordings were either destroyed
by the regime or deteriorated rapidly in the tropical environment due
to lack of preservation. However, many vinyl recordings have survived
and have gained reissues initially on tape cassettes and later on
compact discs. Unfortunately many of these reissues are also remixed
with extra beats usually overriding the original score. The releases
from the master sources are thereby highly sought out by
preservationists and collectors.
Sothea's older sister, Ros Saboeut, is widely credited with reuniting Cambodia's surviving musicians and bands in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge era.[3] Surviving musicians had initially contacted Ros Saboeut to inquire about Sothea's fate.[3] Ros Saboeut used the opportunity, and her contacts, to reunite the country's rock bands and musicians.[3] According to Youk Chhang, the executive director
of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, Ros Saboeut sought to restore
Cambodian music as a tribute to her sister, "I think she was bound by
the legacy of her sister to help."[3] Her efforts were widely credited with rebuilding the country's rock genre.[3]
Nonetheless Sothea remained extremely popular posthumously in
Cambodia and Cambodian communities scattered throughout the United
States, France, Australia, and Canada. Western interest in Sothea would
not dawn until songs by Sothea, Sinn Sisamouth and other Cambodian
singers of the era such as Meas Samoun, Choun Malai and Pan Ron, were featured on the soundtrack to Matt Dillon's film City of Ghosts. Tracks by Sothea are "Have You Seen My Love", "I'm Sixteen" and "Wait Ten Months".
The Los Angeles band Dengue Fever,
which features Cambodian lead singer Chhom Nimol, covers a number of
songs by Sothea and other singers from the short-lived but rich
Cambodian rock and roll scene. The advent of the internet, undoubtedly
saved what was left of her discography while spreading and garnering
interest in her music even after almost half a century later.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
To paint art realistically is to make
it almost real. Hardly poetic, I know, but for many beginners the
journey to realism is full of confusion and disappointment.
Realism
is the oxygen of digital art. It breathes life into your work by
associating it with things we already know. We connect to it because we
see ourselves in it. So it's no wonder that so many artists spend a
lifetime trying to master realism in all its beautiful glory.
In
today's article, we'll tackle a handful of useful tips to help you
incorporate different realistic elements into your digital paintings.
Whether you're just starting out or are a little more experienced, have a
go at these time-saving techniques for more realistic art.
1. Use Photo Textures in Your Work
One
great way to instantly add realism to your digital paintings is to
apply textures to them. You can easily do this by incorporating photo
textures into your work.
Photo textures are parts of photographs
that you warp and manipulate to blend into your painting. This technique
is especially great for achieving the perfect texture for clothes,
skin, details in nature, and general grit and grunge.
In this incredible example by Johnson Ting, he creates an that is out of this world. Pay special attention to how he uses small bits of photos to add authentic textures to his piece.
2. Paint With Texture Brushes
Remember
Bob Ross? King of giant afros and "happy trees"? For over a decade he
famously painted beautiful oil landscapes on his hit TV show, The Joy of Painting.
He achieved incredibly realistic details by using simple materials,
including a fan brush to paint all the foliage for his signature trees.
You
too can achieve realism by equipping yourself with a wide range of
textured brushes in Photoshop. You can find these brushes online or even
create your own by following our series of tutorials dedicated to
creating
3. Apply Ambient Occlusion for Lighting
Studying
Ambient Occlusion is like stumbling across the holy grail of
techniques. If you're already familiar with painting in grayscale then
you probably know this common equation: One grayscale base + colors set to different blend modes = an almost finished painting.
And
what is more frustrating than understanding light and shadow? Sure,
there are plenty of close seconds, but the magic is always in the
lighting.
We were already impressed by Photoshop's ability to
convert gray tonal values to a dynamic colorful piece. But with Ambient
Occlusion, you simply apply a universal lighting scenario that cuts
your painting time in half. Maybe even more. By the time you're finished
converting your black and whites to color, the painting is almost
complete. No more relentless tweaking long after you've already applied
color. Or making up for holes and mistakes in your original setup.
Many of our instructors here at Tuts+ swear by this technique, including myself. Check out how I used this method to paint a Absorb this process, and you'll dramatically change your workflow.
4. Paint With Natural Color Palettes
If
you're not confident in your painting skills, don't worry, they'll grow
with time. But one great alternative to achieving realism is to turn
your focus to color.
Even though it's tempting to paint with
bright, vivid colors, limit your color palettes to colors found in
nature. Take swatches from photographs and test these values in your own
paintings. Soon you'll see that you don't have to be the best painter
in the world to make your art that much more realistic.
You can
also study natural color palettes to understand how to paint people.
Because of the makeup of our bodies, painting skin for instance is more
involved than just using different shades of brown.
In this illustration by Alice Catrinel Ciobotaru, you'll notice how even shades of purple show up in her simple
Study more about the human body to notice these small changes in color,
and then try out some natural color palettes for yourself.
5. Add a Quick Filter of Noise
If
you forgot to paint with different brushes or you can't be bothered
with gathering photo references, there's always this one simple fix. Use
a quick filter of Noise.
To do this, add a New Layer (Control-Shift-N) and fill it with a light gray color. Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and adjust the Amount to 15%.
Set the layer to Overlay and bring down the Opacity to 30%.
This
effect allows you to add grit in a matter of seconds. Just make sure
you're not too heavy-handed with the noise, because you definitely don't
want to ruin your painting efforts.
6. Paint Additional Light Sources
Every
artist goes through a couple of portrait paintings in their lifetime.
Not only are they great for developing technique, but you can also
experiment with different lighting setups.
The best way to
study light is to study photographs. Do a basic Google search to learn
more about different types of lighting including:
Rim Lighting
Back Lighting
Ambient Light
Different Combinations of Light
While I was painting this ,
I took a moment to experiment with how another light source might
bounce around the painting. This additional light, the orange light
source, became a magical detail that pushed my portrait forward and gave
it more character.
Try out your own studies and discover how this
lighting technique adds life to your work. Experiment with different
colors and you'll instantly surprise yourself with what works best.
Conclusion
As
with many things in life, if you crack the simple formulas you can
adapt your work for greater success. So the next time you browse the
work of your favorite artists, don't just sit there in awe. Study it.
Search out their process. Pick it apart not in critique but for
techniques. Notice how they're always the same? Soon enough, you'll see
how each artist found the process they liked best and stuck with it.
They've found their formula. So now find yours.
I wish you much success on your digital painting journey. Keep up with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HQbK971nLk for more essential tips and tricks in navigating the waters as a beginner. Good luck!
10 Most Popular Modern Painting Styles
Paintings are a great way to dress up one's living room, bedroom, reception area, or just about any space. Many modern paintings
are popular because of their thought-provoking nature. In fact, many
people value modern paintings according to how well they can spark a
conversation with house guests or office clients. These paintings can
open one's mind to a new perspective of the world, while others stir the
emotions, while others simply set a tone for a room. Not only can these
paintings be appreciated for their beauty, some are also sound
investments that may offer great resale value. Buyers of modern
paintings should know the ten most popular modern painting styles and
how to distinguish one from the other.
Popular Modern Styles of Painting
Modern art was a reaction to the rigid style set by traditional
French institutions. Modern styles emerged starting in the 1860s and
continued through the 1970s. This type of art refers to styles of
painting that eschewed realism and past traditions. Instead, its focus
is on experimentation with various materials and styles. The following
are some of the popular styles that reflect the spirit of the modern art
movement.
1. Abstract Art
Abstract art refers to a style of painting that does not use
figurative reality as a reference. Instead, the artist alludes to his or
her subject and reduces it to a simplified form. Colors and shapes are
used to portray emotions and the landscape of one's inner world. Listed
below are the various kinds of abstract art styles that have emerged.
Abstract expressionism paintings are emotionally intense
and spontaneously created by the artist. It is often synonymous with
action or gesture paintings that have an anarchic and rebellious feel.
There is tension and high drama in their composition.
Color field paintings are characterized by large, solid
colors on a flat plane. The colors are the subjects themselves, and they
are normally painted on large canvas material. Compared to abstract
expressionism, color field painters aim to present their paintings as
one cohesive image.
Mark Rothko
Robert Motherwell
Barnett Newman
Hans Hoffman
Lyrical Abstraction
Lyrical abstraction refers to abstract paintings that are
softer and more romantic in nature. Instead of drama and tension, this
style has a relaxed randomness and spontaneity. It is called "lyrical,"
because of the imagery that allows the person to interpret or "read" it.
Cubism is characterized by geometric figures. Cubist
painters analyze the subject and break it up into a geometric abstract
form. These are normally viewpoints of the subject from various angles.
Cubist paintings range from partially abstract to fully abstract.
Pablo Picasso
Georges Braque
Jean Metzinger
Robert Delauney
Fernand Leger
Abstract expressionism, color field, cubism, and lyrical
abstraction are just some of the abstract art paintings available out
there. Choosing among these styles depends on one's personal preference
as well as the type of environment the painting will occupy, whether a
bedroom, living area, or office space.
2. Surrealism
Surrealism is a modern painting style that juxtaposes various
images together to give a startling effect. The images in these
paintings are often illogical and have a dream-like quality about them. Surrealist paintings emphasize the subconscious. Among the popular Surrealist painters are Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Valentine Hugo, Joan Miro, and Toyen.
3. Conceptual Art
Conceptual art
is a modern art style where the artist believes that concept is more
important than artwork itself. Many conceptual artists believed that
while they conceived the work, it is completed by the viewer. In fact,
many types of conceptual art are only a set of instructions. It is rare
to find this type of art to just be a painting, as it often incorporates
elements of sculpture and installation. Marcel DuChamp, Yoko Ono, Yves Klein, and Robert Rauschenberg are some of the famous conceptual artists.
4. Pop Art
Pop Art paintings
occurred as a reaction to abstract expressionism, which mid-1950s
British artists believed was art that was far-removed from daily life.
Pop Art revolved around mundane subjects like comic books, advertising,
celebrities, and other objects found in the everyday. It was a return to
realism and representation in art. Prominent artists in this field
include Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and Wayne Thiebaud, among others.
5. Photorealism
From the name itself, a photorealist painting
is one that looks as realistic as a photograph. This is done by taking a
picture of the subject and then painting it. Photorealism is an art
movement influenced by pop art, and it ran counter as a reaction to
abstract expressionism. Unlike abstract art or conceptual art,
photorealist painting has to be done by an artist who possesses advanced
technical ability to capture the realism of the photograph onto canvas.
Famous photorealist painters include the following: Glennray Tutor,
Robert Bechtle, Tom Blackwell, Don Eddy, and Cindy Wright, among others.
6. Hyperrealism
Hyperrealism is an advancement of the photorealism art movement.
Artists use high-resolution cameras to take photographs and paint them
on canvas. Compared to photorealism, however, hyperrealist paintings
have exaggerated shadows and inanimate objects display lifelikeness,
even though they do not normally possess these qualities. Hyperrealism
focuses on a false "super" reality. The following are some of the
popular hyperrealist painters: Robert Bechtle, Richard Estes, Bert Monroy, Duane Hanson, and Charles Bell, among others.
7. Minimalism
Minimalism is an art movement that is, as expected, characterized by simplicity. Minimalist paintings
strip down the subject to its very essence. Instead of energy-filled
self-expression as is the hallmark of abstract expressionism, minimalist
art, on the other hand, paints only what the artist believes is
necessary. Some of the more famous minimalist painters are Barnett Newman, Kazimir Malevich, Piet Mondrian, and Frank Stellas.
8. Futurism
Futurism is a painting style that concerns itself with subjects
like the technology, speed, violence, and the future of the world. It
concerns itself with the depiction of man's triumph over nature. This
movement rejects the establishment and praises originality. To recreate
this level of emotional dynamism on canvas, futurist paintings
adopted the cubist style of painting where they deconstruct subjects
into geometric figures to show movement. David Burlyuk, Aristarkh
Lentulov, Fortunato Depero, and Gerardo Dottori are just some of the
well-known Futurist painters.
9. Impressionism
Impressionism is one of the earliest modern painting styles that
originated in Paris, France. It is characterized by thin brushstrokes
and an emphasis on the depiction of light. Impressionist artists often
painted outdoors to capture sunlight and color of their subjects. In the
1870s, Impressionist paintings were considered radical because they did not paint according to the rules. Famous impressionist painters include Claude Monet, Pierre - Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Armand Guillaumin, among others.
10. Fauvism
Fauvism is an art movement that occurred sometime after
impressionism. While impressionism retains a somewhat realistic
representation of the subjects, Fauvist paintings
focus on strong color. Artists employing this style have wild brush
strokes and highly simplified subjects. Among the popular Fauvism
painters are Andre Derain, Henry Matisse, Charles Camoin, and Maurice Marinot.
10 Most Famous Paintings In The World
Between the millions of paintings that are created and shown in
galleries and museums all around the world, a very small amount
transcend time and make history. This select group of paintings is
recognizable by people from all over the world and of all ages and will
probably continue to echo and leave impressions in the minds of people
in the centuries to come. Below is a list of some of the most famous
paintings in the world
1. Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci. The most famous painting in the world is the main attraction of the Louvre museum in Paris,
where it is seen by six million people every year! Leonardo da Vinci
painted it from the year 1503 or 1504 till shortly before he died in
1519
2. The Last Supper – Leonardo da Vinci. This world famous painting is not shown in a museum, but rather covers
the back wall of the dining hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie
monastery in Milan, Italy. It was painted by the most famous artist of
all time, Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th-century. The
painting depicts the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his
disciples. Seeing this masterpiece in the small monastery is truly one
of the best attractions Milan has to offer
3. The Creation Of Adam – Michelangelo. Located on the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome.
The Creation Of Adam was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512
and it is just one of nine scenes from the book of Genesis that are
painted on the center of the ceiling of the chapel
4. Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh. Painted by Dutch
artist Vincent van Gogh in 1889, Starry Night is one of the most well
known paintings in modern culture. The painting is part of the permanent
collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The painting was
the inspiration for the song “Vincent” (also known as “starry starry
night”) by Don McLean. McLean’s song reference the painting as well as
other paintings by the famous artist
5. The Scream – Edvard Munch. The most famous piece by
Edvard Munch, painted around 1893. It was painted using oil and pastel
on cardboard. This frightening painting is on display at The National
Gallery, Oslo, Norway
6. The Persistence Of Memory – Salvador Dali. Painted
in 1931 by the Spanish artist Salvador Dali, The Persistence of
Memory is one of the most recognizable pieces in art history. This work
of art is known to make people ponder on their way of life and the way
they spend their time, and it is also thought that this wonderful
painting was inspired by Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
7. Girl With A Pearl Earring – Johannes Vermeer. Considered
by many to be “the Dutch Mona Lisa” or the “Mona Lisa of the North”,
this beautiful painting by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer features,
well… a girl with a pearl earring. The painting was completed around
1665 and is on display in the Mauritshuis Gallery in the Hague,
the Netherlands
8. The Night Watch – Rembrandt van Rijn. Completed in
1642, this famous artwork is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The painting depicts a city guard moving out, led by Captain Frans
Banning Cocq, his lieutenant and the rest of the guard’s armed men
9. Self-Portrait Without Beard – Vincent van Gogh. Even
though Van Gogh painted many portraits of himself, this one is by far
the most famous as it is his last self-portrait and one of the few that
depicts him without a beard. It was given by him to his mother as a
birthday gift. It is also one of the most expensive paintings of all
times, as it was sold for $71.5 million in 1998, and is now part of a
private collection
10. Guernica – Pablo Picasso. The most famous painting
by Picasso, completed in 1937. The painting was painted in Paris and
is Inspired by the bombing of Guernica in Spain during the Spanish Civil
War. The painting is on permanent display in Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
