Fieldrecordings of the Kavet, Brao & Krung ethnic groups from Ratanakiri, Cambodia.
The Kavet are a subgroup of Braopeople, half of the Braos are living in Cambodia and the other half in Laos, they speak the same language, they belong to the Mon khmer family and are the first inhabitants of this area. With other ethnic groups in this area, they share a lot musically, especially the fascination for gong playing in animist ceremonies,. but also similar bamboo instruments. The music can be divided in 2 categories according to the purpose, various bamboo instruments and singing being used in entertainment music and ensembles of gongs being used for animist ceremonies and drinking sessions or a village party like in Lalai, Veunsai district in Ratanakiri province, most people are involved in swidden agriculture outside of the village and this party is the occasion to bring everyone from the same village together, the village is closed to outsiders for 3 days , then reopen with a 3 days ceremony where ensembles of 5 gongs are being played, and a pair of flat gongs called thai. While nipple gongs are being played, some men and women are dancing and a woman clapping 2 large bamboo tubes and hitting them on the ground. Taking place in the heart of the dry season, the party is fueled with rice wine in big jars, in 2 avet villages along the Lalai river and called in Khmer Kok Lak.
A specificity of the Brao is their way of reciting epic ancient tales or various histories. Meut Mouan is a special technique requiring the man to lie down on his back with the head constantlypanning from left to right, while chanting his story.
Thai is a pair of thick flat gongs, 2 men are facing eachothers sitting on the ground or on the bamboo floor of the house, having set up 2 thick flat gongs hanged on a frame between them, each man hit the gongs with 2 long bamboo sticks, one hits the inside of the gongs while the other hits the outside of the gongs, developping rythmically. They use the word Tha or Thai for this pair of gong which is usually of higher value than normal gongs.

The Brao people live in southern Laos and northeast Cambodia. They belong to the Mon-khmer ethno-linguistic family and are the first inhabitants of this area. As with other ethnic groups in Cambodia and Vietnam, animist ceremonies feature gong ensemble accompanying buffalo sacrifices and rice alcohol consumption. A specificity of the Brao is their way of reciting epic ancient tales or various histories. The special technique requires the man to lie down on his back with the head constantly panning from left to right.
Ya Ien is an old man of the Brao community in Taveng northern Ratanakiri who has the ability to go on all night reciting epic story including the names of ancestors.

Original CD acquired in Ratanakiri, Cambodia around 2013. Published in 2004