|
TRO OU
Description
The Tro
Ou is a stringed instrument which is bowed. It has been
used in wedding music since the Chattomuk, Longvek and
Udong periods and it still used in weddings today.
The
sound box is made of mature coconut shell, with one open
side covered with snake or thin flat wood such as
“Rolous” or “Spoung”.
The
neck of the Tro Ou is hardwood, “Kra Nhung”, “Neang Nung”
or black wood. The neck is around 75cm long, with the
upper end quite large in width, tapering down to a
slender base. The strings are attached to two turning
pegs at the top of the instrument. The lower pitched
string is called “Kse Gor” and the higher “Kse Ex”.
Resonance is created within the sound box and by a small
piece of wood (“young”- bridge) round 4cm high. Placed
in the middle of the snake skin, the bridge, serves to
elevate the strings.
Approximately 20cm below the tuning pegs the strings
are tied to the neck with a piece of cotton thread
called Kse Kor, (neck strings). This along with the pegs
controls tension, and if moved up or down, alters the
pitch.
The bow
is called a “ Chak’” and is made of hard wood which is
curved in an arch shape. The hair of the bow made of
horsehair or fiber from the “Tnout” tree is stretched
out. The bow hair is actually placed though the strings
which are wound around the finger of the player to
control the tension of the bow. The right hand is used
to control the bow, and the left hand used to play on
the strings. To prevent the bow hair from slipping,
resin from the pine or corky from tree is applied.
The lower pitch string “Gor” in western notation, is
approximately “C” and the higher, “Ek” is “G”.
note: click on the
sound link to listen to the sound of the instrument.
|
