Last living master: Kantaoming music
A$2,295
of $2,200 targetyrs ago
Successful on 12th Jul 2013 at 11:16PM.
WHO ARE YOU?
Thanks for visiting this page! I'm Cathy, a music researcher from Brisbane, Australia. Earlier this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cambodia and speak with some elderly master-musicians about their music. One of the people I spoke with was 72-year-old Seng Norn. We met at a beautiful temple complex in Siem Riep in the north of the country, not far from his home village, and sat outside the temple library for our chat (photo below).
WHO IS MR SENG NORN?
Seng Norn is the last living actively-teaching master of kantaoming, a rare, ancient form of traditional Cambodian funeral music played at temples when a person has died, to guide the soul from life to death. Mr Norn teaches his students to play the various instruments of kantaoming, including gongs, drums, and the sralai (the reed instrument shown in the photo below).
WHY ARE YOU RAISING FUNDS FOR HIM?
During our chat, Mr Norn told me he would love to have a new set of instruments, because the ones he currently uses for teaching are in poor condition. Also, whenever his village community needs those instruments for a funeral ceremony, he can't teach any more. I want to help him. He has expressed his willingness for me to run this campaign, and it has been developed in liaison with him at every stage.
WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?
The funds raised through this campaign will go to having a full set of kantaoming instruments made and delivered from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep, where Mr Norn lives and teaches. A kantaoming ensemble costs around $A2000 - an impossible amount in Cambodia, where most artists earn around $50 per month. This is an "all-or-nothing" campaign, meaning that unless I reach the target amount of $2200 (the extra $200 for delivery of the instruments to Mr Norn), no money changes hands.
Any funds raised over the target will be contributed directly to the programs of Cambodian Living Arts, a non-profit organisation that supports local Cambodian master-artists, including Mr Norn, and their students.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Through his teaching, Mr Norn is making enormous efforts to pass on this tradition to younger people so that it's not lost. He believes that especially after the unspeakable years of horror, war and famine in Cambodia, it's so important to keep cultural traditions like kantaoming strong - it strengthens individual and community identity, helps younger people take pride in their heritage, and can provide a modest income for its musicians too. Being old and not in great health, though, Mr Norn knows there is no time to waste if he is to pass on his knowledge and skills.
HOW WILL YOU GET THE INSTRUMENTS?
Because some of the instruments that make up the kantaoming ensemble are rare, the set needs to be especially commissioned. But I want Mr Norn to have these instruments as soon as possible, and I am confident that you will help me raise the total amount, so we have commissioned the instruments already! They are being built as you read this, in the workshop of Cambodian Arts, an organisation based in Phnom Penh that employs highly skilled local instrument-builders.
HOW SOON WILL IT HAPPEN?
We expect the instruments to be ready in early August, and we hope to deliver the full set to Mr Norn that month. He and his students would then be able to start using them immediately for his teaching. His village community would also be happy to have another available set of instruments to use for their needs.
WHO'S ON YOUR PROJECT TEAM?
I'm supported in this campaign by Marion from Cambodian Living Arts and Jay from sPurpo. Cambodian Living Arts is a non-government organisation that focuses on recovery and preservation of the country's traditional arts. It supports master-artists, including Mr Norn, to run classes and programs to pass on their skills and train a new generation of artists. sPurpo is a global community that engages with and catalyses ‘do good’ ideas for the purpose of social impact. I'm thrilled to have the help and support of Marion, Jay, and their excellent organisations for this campaign.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR US, YOUR SUPPORTERS?
Well, there's all the 'rewards' on the right-hand side of this page, for starters! But perhaps the best thing you'll get out of your contribution is knowing that you're helping Mr Norn to pass on his wealth of knowledge and experience with kantaoming to a new generation, at a critical juncture for this rare art form. You're also helping young Cambodians maintain their connection to and pride in their cultural heritage, as well as learn skills from which they can earn an income. And you're helping a whole village - country, even - keep its traditional practices alive. What better reasons to contribute?
Images (c) Catherine Grant (top), Matthew Wakem (centre) and George Nickels (bottom)
The Challenges
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A personal email of thanks from me with an attached e-photo of Mr Seng Norn, PLUS a public shout-out of thanks through the social media networks of Cambodian Living Arts.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 13
A handwritten postcard from me, with image of Master Seng Norn on the front, as a token of our thanks (pledgers outside Australia, please accept an e-card), PLUS a public shout-out of thanks through the social media networks of Cambodian Living Arts.
3 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 13
As for $20, PLUS your name (and photo if you wish) on a "donors" sign where Mr Seng Norn holds his kantaoming class.
4 chosen
Est. delivery is Aug 13
As for $50, PLUS an exclusive audio file of kantaoming music (with the kind permission of Cambodian Living Arts).
4 chosen
Est. delivery is Aug 13
As for $80, PLUS a free Cambodian Living Arts Tour to Mr Seng Norn's class in Siem Riep province if you are in Cambodia! (While tours run. See http://www.cambodianlivingarts.org/experience/visit-classes/).
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Aug 13