Visit An Phu hamlet to listen to Khmer music

An Phu Hamlet, Go Quao Commune is a hamlet with a large Khmer ethnic population. To preserve and promote the ethnic cultural traditions, the local government coordinated with the Management Board of Soc Sau Pagoda to establish the An Phu Hamlet Five-tone Instrument Club.

Established and put into operation since 2019, the club now has more than 20 members, operating increasingly effectively, and is a core unit in cultural and artistic movements of Go Quao commune.

Every time the club's activities attract many people in the hamlet to come and watch, everyone is captivated by the resonant, rhythmic music played by the talented hands of the musicians.

Members of the An Phu Hamlet Five-tone Instrument Club, Go Quao Commune.

In the spiritual life of the Khmer people, pentatonic music is considered a precious cultural asset, indispensable in the traditional festivals and New Year of the Khmer people. The development of pentatonic music in modern life contributes to improving the spiritual life of the people.

The traditional Khmer pentatonic music (Pinn Peat) is an orchestra composed of 5 sets of instruments, made from 5 different materials, creating 5 distinct timbres: Brass, Iron, Wood, Wind and Leather. Each instrument has a different structure, so it has its own distinct sound characteristics, ensuring harmony for the entire orchestra so that when played together, it creates unique sounds, from very low to high, from sweet, melodious to deep, eloquent, touching the heart.

According to Mr. Danh Nghiep, Head of the An Phu Hamlet Pentatonic Club, Pentatonic music is mainly instrumental music, which can be combined with the graceful dances typical of Khmer women to create a unique cultural space of the Khmer people.

A pentatonic band usually has 5-6 musicians. To master the instruments in a pentatonic orchestra, the user must understand how to harmonize, catch the beat, and remember the notes of the song.

The An Phu Hamlet Five-tone Instrument Club, Go Quao Commune participated in the performance at the Khmer Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of Kien Giang Province in 2025 (now An Giang Province).

The members of the An Phu Hamlet Five-tone Instrument Club are mainly students, of different ages and backgrounds, but with the same interests and passion for music and the love of traditional art of their nation. Without anyone telling anyone, they all gather together every weekend to participate in activities. In the club, the youngest member is 10 years old, the oldest is 13 years old.

Danh Thai Phong, a club member, shared: “Joining the An Phu Hamlet Pentatonic Club helps me gain in-depth knowledge of Pentatonic music. Through what I have been taught, I love my nation’s traditional culture more. I am happy to continue and contribute a small part to preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of my nation.”

The weekly activities are carefully and systematically prepared by the club's management board to bring about effectiveness in each activity. Maintaining participation in club activities creates a healthy and useful playground, helping members to exchange, entertain, improve skills, thereby increasing their love for pentatonic music, and being aware of preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the nation.

Every year, the An Phu Hamlet Five-tone Instrument Club participates in staging programs to perform for the people on the occasion of Lunar New Year, traditional festivals, and major anniversaries of the country and the locality. The Club has won many awards when participating in festivals, programs, and art competitions. For three consecutive years, the Club has participated in the Khmer traditional art festival of the province and has been awarded.

In 2025, the Khmer traditional art troupe of the commune, including club members, was awarded a certificate of merit by the Department of Culture and Sports of Kien Giang province (now An Giang province) for its many achievements in preserving and promoting the traditional art values ​​of the Khmer people in the province.

Article and photos: CAM TU