dancers, such as the gong called kong and the small cymbals called chung, both of which have been essential to the Pinpeat ensemble for centuries.
   The Phlengkar or Kar ensemble plays the music of weddings, and few villages in Cambodia are without one. It is made up of seven wind, string, and percussive instruments, and vocals. Cambodian wedding ceremonies can last up to three days and nights, and are accompanied by music almost continuously. Originally, Kar music was thought to have a blessing power that made it too important to risk allowing young, inexperienced men to play, so Kar ensembles were restricted to the oldest and most serious musicians.
   The Mohowrri ensemble is the most renowned ensemble that plays secular music. Heard at banquets, accompanying folk dances, or playing an evening concert, Mohhowrri music is purely for entertainment, and its repertoire can include anything from lullabies to love songs to narratives. Generally, the vocalist and the ensemble alternate their renditions. This large ensemble is almost always string-based, although the exact instrumentation varies depending upon patronage. The term is also used in Thai music, and the instrumentation is often the same as Khmer Mohowrri music, although the songs are different.