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RONEAT EK
Description
The Roneat Ek is a percussion instrument, which is tuned
to pitch and is rather similar to the western equivalent
of a xylophone. It is found in the “Pin Peat” and
“Mohowrri” orchestras. The function of the Roneat in the
ensemble is to keep the harmony going throughout.
The
Roneat Ek is built in the shape of a curved, rectangular
boat. This serves as the sound box, and is approximately
1.10-cm long and over 11 cm wide. The sound box is made
of a hardwood called “Beng” or “Neang Nung” and consists
of two long walls and two short walls, called "Snok
Khawls.” The base of the sound box is called “Cherng
Pean.”
Originally these instruments were highly decorated with
inlay and carvings on the sides of the sound box, now
they are simpler. The sound bars are made of bamboo or
wood and are suspended from strings attached to the two
walls, “Khawls”; this helps the resonance of the
bars.
Each
of the twenty- one sound bars are the same width, but
not the same length, as the length determines the pitch
of the bar. Those on the left, produce the lowest sound.
The furthest to the left and the lowest, therefore, is
“F”, which is around 40mm long. The highest note, is
the twenty- first bar, which is around 30 mm long and
makes the sound “E”.
Under
each of the sound bars, are small round knobs of mixed
lead and bees wax, to assist fine tuning of the bars.
Using two beaters made of bamboo, with the heads covered
in rolled cloth plays the Roneat Ek. Sometimes the heads
are waxed using wax from a special tree to assist the
sound as the beater hits the bars. There are two kinds
of beaters according to the orchestra in which the
Roneat is being played. For example, harder beaters are
used for the Pin Pheat Orchestra, while softer beaters
known as “Onlung Melun” are used for the performance of
Mohowrri music.
There
are additional differences in sound, when the Roneat
plays in the Pin Peat orchestra and when it plays in
Mohowrri, with the sound of one slightly lower and the
other higher.
note: click on the
sound link to listen to the sound of the instrument.
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