Kong Nay playing the chapei dang veng, Phnom Penh, 2007

Kong Nay (Khmer: គង់ ណៃ), also known as Kong Nai (born March 15, 1944 in Kampot Province, Cambodia), is a Cambodian musician from Kampot Province in southwestern Cambodia who plays a traditional long-necked fretted plucked lute called chapei dang veng. Commonly referred to as Master Kong Nay, he is a master of the chrieng chapei genre (Khmer: ច្រៀង​ចាប៉ី) in which a solo vocalist performs semi-improvised topical material within traditional epics self-accompanied with the chapei.[1]

He is one of relatively few great masters to have survived the Khmer Rouge era, and is known as the "Ray Charles of Cambodia".[2] Though his music is very different to Charles, the similarity they hold is that Kong Nay is also blind. The fact that most of the remaining chapei masters, such as Prach Chhoun and Neth Pe are blind is a rather remarkable coincidence.[3]

He received the 2017 Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize.[4][5]

Early life

Kong grew up in a poor family in Daung village, in Kampong Trach district’s Svay Tong Khang Choeung commune, Kampot province. At the age of four, he contracted smallpox resulting in his blindness.[6] Drawn to the sound of the chapei players in his village, he mimicked the sound of the instrument until his father was able to purchase a used instrument. Learning from his great uncle Kong Kith,[7] Kong Nay became proficient quickly. By 18, he was playing professionally and married Tat Chhan.[8]

Post war

After winning a national chapei competition in 1991, the Ministry of Culture gave him a monthly salary of $19 and some land in Phnom Penh's Dey Krahom area,[9] near the White Building in Tonle Bassac.

Declining health

In May 2022, Kong Nay was hospitalised for treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes and lung problems at Kampot provincial hospital. Kong's son, Samphors, is quoted as saying his father may not play the chapei again.[10]

Awards and recognition

Discography

Other Appearances

Notable Performances

  • 2007: WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance), Wiltshire, UK
  • 2008: WOMAD New Zealand, New Plymouth, New Zealand; WOMADelaide, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2009: World Chamber Music #4 Kong Nay, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2013: Season of Cambodia (SOC) Festival, New York, USA
  • 2015: Geidai 21: Geidai Arts Special 2015－Disability & Arts, Tokyo, Japan

References

  1. ↑ Norton, Sean. "Yearbook for Traditional Music Volume 35". Yearbook for Traditional Music. Cambridge University Press. 35: 228. doi:10.2307/4149356. JSTOR 4149356. S2CID 192988871. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Naren, K & Michelle, V. "Cambodian Arts Legend Kong Nay Receives Asian Art Prize". The Cambodia Daily. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Wiser, Danny (30 September 2021). "CAMBODIA: Un Barde Cambodgien - Kong Nay". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Sotheary, Pech. "Music legend Kong Nay wins Japan arts prize". Khmer Times. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Arts and Culture Prize 2017 - 28th - KONG Nay". Fukuoka Prize. Retrieved 10 Jan 2021.
  6. ↑ Lusk, Jon (27 July 2007). "'They planned to kill me - but I survived'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Poynton, Dan (6 October 2006). "Blind man sings the blues". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Lusk, Jon (27 July 2007). "'They planned to kill me - but I survived'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Poynton, Dan (6 October 2006). "Blind man sings the blues". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Tith, Kongnov (May 10, 2022). "Living heritage: 'Ray Charles of Cambodia' hospitalised". Khmer Times. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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