Skor yeam

Cambodian bass drum

The skor yeam (guard drum) also known as the skor pheary, skor chey (successful drum) and skor torb (soldier drum) is a Cambodian bass drum, similar in shape to the skor samphor, but much larger.^[1]^[2] The drums are ancient in origin, used originally in war to "beat command signals" or gather soldiers together.^[1]^[2] In temples they are used to call Buddhists together or announce ceremonies.^[2] Where the samphor is hand-played, the skor yeam is played with a drumstick.^[1] The instrument is similar in size and shape to the Thai taphon mon.

As the "skor yeam" the drum was played in Cambodian "Tom Ming" music, played at funerals.^[1]^[2] As the skor pheary or skor peiry, the instrument was used in monasteries, much as the bells in Catholic monasteries, signaling times for prayer and religious services.^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Khean, Yun; Dorivan, Keo; Lina, Y; Lenna, Mao. Traditional Musical Instruments of Cambodia (PDF). Kingdom of Cambodia: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. p. 243.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Vanna, Ly (September 2002). "Cambodian Percussion". leisurecambodia.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019. [tabloid; volume 2, number 9]