May 2012
We are proud to collaborate with MTV EXIT, who is reaching out to thousands of young Cambodians by organising a series of roadshows on the theme of fighting human trafficking.
CLA is supporting MTV EXIT through performance of traditional Khmer art forms at some of their roadshows, as a way to inspire, engage and empower young audiences. On the 28th of April, one of our performers, Kong Boran, son of the famous master Kong Nai, went to perform Chapei Dang Weng at the Roadshow in Kampong Cham Province. This was a great success and 4,000 people attended the concert.
Cambodian Living Arts is currently running an archiving project, with funding from the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. Our first focus is to make audio and video recordings, capturing artists performing 4 rare forms. At the same time, we are also comprehensively documenting the songs, lyrics and history of each form, through secondary research and by conducting interviews. We plan to produce 1,000 CDs of each form, to be distributed throughout Cambodia, with additional songs, video and archive information to be made accessible to a global audience.
Last week we recorded an ensemble from Kampong Speu province which plays Arek, a rare form of traditional music. This group is the only Arek ensemble that we have been able to find that is still playing the music in the traditional way. The band knows only 12 of approximately 65 songs that are believed to exist, highlighting the urgency and importance of this work.
At the same time, we continue to hunt for new musicians to record other rare forms. Earlier this week, we recorded two Smot singers; and on Wednesday the Archiving Project headed to Kampot province, in order to find a Kantaoming group that we heard is based there. We hope we will find them!
For more information about the art forms, have a look at the explanations below.
(the Arek ensemble with CLA Archiving project team, may 2012.)
What is Kantaoming?
Kantaoming in a very rare form of Cambodian traditional funeral music. It is played at temples once a person has died and is believed to help guide the person's spirit to the next life. In the Kantaoming music ensemble, there are many instruments (gong set, large drum, small flute, large gongs). The instruments are set up so that musicians can face three directions - north, south and west (because when a person dies, you can‘t see him/her anymore). There are only 12 songs that are played by the Kantaoming ensemble, with one song that is repeated over and over again.
What is smot?
Smot is Khmer chanted poetry. Most of the poetry tells about Budhha's life and religious principles, as well as about traditional Khmer stories. Smot is a particularly difficult form of music for young Cambodians because the melodies and vocal style are unlike any other form, and the words use Pali and other cryptic vocabulary highly removed from everyday Khmer. Nevertheless, the form is deeply integral to Khmer culture and especially Khmer Buddhism (over 90% of Cambodians are Buddhist).
What is Classical Wedding Music?
Classical wedding music is a type of traditional Khmer music ensemble performed at weddings and traditional ceremonies that dates back to first century AD. The music played is very lively and accompanied by a singer. There are several instruments involved in a Classical Wedding Music ensemble including : Chapei Dang Weng (2-string long neck guitar), Khmer hand drum, cymbals, Tro (3-stringed Violin), small flute and Ksa Diev. Nowadays, the Ksa Diev is a very rare instrument in Cambodia. It is made from a gourd and the musician plucks a string.
Small Farm Apprentice
Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth, MA
Early June to mid- November, 2012
General Overview
Participate in the holistic experience that is diversified small farming in hopes of building confidence and skills to prepare you for an independent future.
Round the Bend Farm (RTB) seeks a farm apprentice to join the farm manager and one to three interns. We are looking for a person who is EXCITED by the prospect of learning all things farming from vegetable gardening to seed saving to animal husbandry. We are looking for a self starter with a strong work ethic.
RTB was started in 2007. It is a 52 acre farm (with access to 25 acres more hayfield and pasture) located in South Dartmouth, MA. The farm enjoys the benefits of close proximity to the ocean, neighboring Audobon Society Sanctuary, and many close farms and friends. RTB has mainly produced animal and vegetable products (pork, eggs, milk, beef, vegetable, herbs and greens, lamb, mutton, wool, goat) in the past. We hope to diversify our produce to include hospitality and educational services and community service. We experience an abundance of opportunity - we capitalize on these opportunities with creative entrepreneurial solutions. The farm is beautiful. The ocean is visible and a nutrient rich sea mist blankets our fields and pastures each morning. Many things grow well at RTB.
This is a seasonal apprenticeship opportunity and will take place from early June through mid- November. This unique opportunity will offer potential educational outreach and teaching opportunities in conjunction with a local non-profit, the Marion Institute. (www.marioninstitute.org).
Requirements
Working closely with the farm manager, you will help to operate/create a small-scale holistic farm business and gain experiential skills to carry you into the future.
The job will require:
• Market garden vegetable growing, harvesting and marketing for CSA delivery and direct restaurant sales.
o Annuals, perennial herbs and fruits.
o Foraging
• Farm design/build while incorporating permaculture concepts.
• Soil building and amendment. Utilization of animal manure creating compost.
• Animal husbandry within rotational grazing system (pigs, chickens, cattle and sheep)
o Poultry care and maintenance
o Herding, sorting and rotation of livestock
• Other types of work may include:
o Carpentry
o Stonewall building/ masonry
o Fence construction
o Sustainable, small, and simple living Machine operation
o Tool maintenance and repair
Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a hardworking, self-starter and finisher, who is open to new ideas, comfortable working with their hands and passionate. Ideally we are looking for someone who will contribute and thrive in a communal living situation and has done so previously. In addition, we would like the farm apprentice to have past experience working or volunteering on a farm or related non-profit.
Qualifications required are:
• Highly organized, energetic, enjoys manual labor....it is hard work and rewarding
• A desire to respect and care for soil and animals (humans included)
• Able to lift and move 50 lbs
• Proven experience in working effectively with other people
• An entrepreneurial approach to small farming
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to accept direction and guidance and carryout arduous tasks
• Knowledge and awareness of self and physical relationship with the natural world
• Willingness to be flexible in terms of work hours
• Willingness to relocate to RTB
• Desire to participate in local, vibrant community
• Smiles, laughter, curiosity, kindness
Compensation
There will be a monthly stipend of $500. We will provide room, board, and wireless internet. Housing will include a private place to sleep and a shared kitchen/dining/library space. There are laundry facilities.
Benefits of this job include living in a beautiful farm setting with a view of the ocean, eating delicious home cooked meals and fresh produce, and living in a warm and friendly community!
There may be entrepreneurial opportunities throughout the season at which you can make extra money. There may be profit sharing upon completion of the apprenticeship. This is based on a 40 to 50 hour work week.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send cover letter, resume and references, and tell us why you would like to be with us by May 31, 2012 to:
Geoff Kinder
Round the Bend Farm
92B Allens Neck Road, Dartmouth, MA 02748
Major American radio station, NPR, interviews Patricia McCormick and Arn Chorn-Pond about Never Fall Down, a novel based on the extroardinary life of Cambodian Living Arts’ founder.
Click here to listen and read the interview.
Cambodian Living arts is looking for new staff members for the Cambodian Youth Arts Festival 2012 :
- Artistic Director,
- Artistic Director (recruitment announcement in Khmer!)
- Logistics Team Coordinator,
- Workshop Coordinator,
- Production Assistant.
To read the job description click on the job title.
The US Newspaper New York Times released an article about the novel : “Never Fall Down,” by Patricia McCormick based on the story of Arn-Chorn Pond, founder of CLA.
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