[[File:Pierre Dieulefils postcard 1662.jpg|thumb|Royal dance orchestra, Phnom Penh, c. 1907. Instruments from the left: front row: [[samphor]] drum, [[roneat dek]] ([[metallophone]]), [[roneat ek]] (bamboo xylophone), [[roneat thung]] (bamboo xylophone), [[sralai]] reed pipe, [[skor thom]] drums, other drums. Back row from the left: sralai, [[kong von thom]], [[kong von toch]].]][[File:ភលងសធករ - ភលងខមរ - Pleng SaThuKa - Pleng Khmer4K.mp3|thumb|[[Sathuka]]r- the principle Cambodian Pinpeat music plays for the opening of Khmer traditional festivities and rituals. Sathukar accompanies in [[Royal ballet of Cambodia|Cambodian Royal Ballets]], [[Lakhon Khol|Masked Drama]], [[Khmer shadow theatre|Shadow Theatre]], and other religious rituals.]]

The '''''Pinpeat''''' ({{lang-langx|km|ពិណពាទ្យ}}, {{transl|km|pĭnpéaty}} {{IPA-km|pɨnpiət|}}) is the largest Khmer traditional [[musical ensemble]]. whichIt performshas performed the ceremonial music of the royal courts and temples of [[Cambodia]] since the ancient times. The [[orchestra]] consists of approximately nine or ten instruments, mainly [[wind instrument|wind]] and [[percussion instrument|percussion]] (including several varieties of [[xylophone]] and [[Drum kit|drums]]). It accompanies [[Royal Ballet of Cambodia|court dances]], [[Lakhon Khol|masked plays]], [[Khmer shadow theatre|shadow play]]s, and [[religion|religious]] ceremonies.<ref name="smileofangkor.info">{{Cite web |author=<!--Not stated-->|url=http://www.smileofangkor.info/sounds-of-angkor/#.XUw7b-gzbIU|title=Sounds of Angkor| website=smileofangkor.info|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> This ensemble is originated in Cambodia since before Angkorian era.<ref name=":5" />

The pinpeat is analogous to the [[pinphat]] adopted from the Khmer court by the [[Lao people|Laotian]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://phralakphralam.com/phralak_phralam_en/le-phralak-phralam/les-musiciens/|title=The musicians {{!}} Phralak Phralam|website=phralakphralam.com|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> and the [[piphat]] ensemble of Thailand.<ref name="NG">Sam-Ang Sam "Cambodia" in ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', 2nd ed., 2001. pp. 861-863</ref>

According to [[Chuon Nath]]'s Khmer dictionary, the 'Pinpeat' is composed of the Sanskrit terms '''''vina/ pin''''' ({{lang|km|វិណ}}) referring to the &nbsp;[[Pin (harp)|pin]] (harp), which was formerly used as the premiere instrument in this ensemble, and '''''vadya/ padya/ peat''''' ({{lang|km|វាទ្យ}}) referring to an ensemble of instruments.<ref name="Chuon1966">Chuon Nath Khmer Dictionary. 1966, Buddhist Institute, Phnom Penh</ref>

According to Sonankavei, the professor from the Department of Music of the Cambodian Royal University of Fine Art, the word ''pinpeat'' is derived from the combination of two musical instruments including ''pin'' (harp) and ''vadya''/ ''peat'', referring to a genre of [[Kong von thom|kong]] called ''kongpeat.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wmc.org.kh/%e1%9e%94%e1%9f%92%e1%9e%9a%e1%9e%9c%e1%9e%8f%e1%9f%92%e1%9e%8f%e1%9e%b7%e2%80%8b%e1%9e%96%e1%9e%b7%e1%9e%8e%e2%80%8b%e1%9e%81%e1%9f%92%e1%9e%98%e1%9f%82%e1%9e%9a%e2%80%8b/|title=ប្រវត្តិពិណខ្មែរ|last=DEV|first=CAMWP|date=2016-03-20|website=WMC|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref><ref name="kongpeat">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Royal Ballet July 2008 |url= https://khmerbamboo.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/khmerclassicaldanceenglish.pdf |location=Cambodia |publisher= Cambodia Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts With the contribution of UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust|page=53 |date=2008 |isbn=|quote=Khmer people call this music “Pin Peat” because this orchestra combines Pin and Peat (Koang Peat) instruments}}</ref>

| image1 = Pin,Khmer Cambodian harpmusicians.jpg

| alt1 = Pin, Cambodian harp

| image1 = Gong Chimes from Voyage de l'Égypte à l'Indochine by Émile Gsell (cropped).jpg

| width1 = 144160

The history of the pinpeat can be traced back to the origins Khmer music. The orchestra and its lead instrument of that era, the [[pin (harp)]], were introduced to early Khmer kingdoms from [[India]], where the pin was depicted far back as the Gupta period (3rd century a.d. – 543 a.d.).<ref name="pawaya">{{cite web |url= https://www.soundsofangkor.org/english/ancient-instruments-va/harp-pre-angkorian-va/ |title= Pre-Angkorian Harp |last= Kersalé |first= Patrick |date= |website= soundsofangkor.org|publisher= |access-date= 21 August 2019|quote= }}</ref> An example from that era can be seen in a relief at the Pawaya site in modern Madya Pradesh, India.<ref name="pawaya" /> The pin may have been introduced to Cambodia in its first kingdom, Funan; however, few structures and evidence remain from this period.

The pinpeat, in its form originating in India, consisted of four musical instruments, the pin (harp), ([[Khloy]]) flute, ([[samphor]]) drum, and [[Ching (instrument)|chhing]] (small cymbals), based on an Indian epic. The narration said that "One day, [[Shiva]] [who] resides in the gods assembly on the summit of [[Mount Kailash|Kailasa]], intended to perform a dance. So he ordered [[Parvati|Uma]] to reside on the golden throne, [[Saraswati|Sarasvati]] to play pin (vina), [[Indra]] to play the flute, [[Brahma]] to play chhing (cymbals), [[Lakshmi|Laksmi]] to sing, and so that other [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] and [[asura]]s would watch the performance..." Later on, more musical instruments were added or replaced by others and developed to form a unique Khmer musical ensemble.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.soundsofangkor.org/english/ancient-dance/instruments-shiva-s-dances-va/ |title= THE ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS THROUGH SHIVA'S DANCES |last= Kersalé |first= Patrick |date= |website= soundsofangkor.org|publisher= |access-date= 21 August 2019|quote=[In the section 'The instruments of the Shiva’s dances from a Khmer legend', musicologist Patrick Kersalé reported that a version of this legend had been collected in Cambodia in the 1960s by Jacques Brunet.] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visotharamuny.blogspot.com/2014/08/blog-post_6.html|title=Pheng Visotharamuny: ប្រវត្ដិក្រុមភ្លេងពិណពាទ្យ|date=2014-08-24|website=Pheng Visotharamuny|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.elibraryofcambodia.org/phleng-pinpeat-phleng-siem-ebook/|title=ភ្លេងពិណពាទ្យ – ភ្លេងសៀម? {{!}} eLibrary of Cambodia|last=Kong|first=Kannika|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref>

Today, the pinpeat incorporates ''kong'' gong chimes, such as the [[kong von thom]], as lead instruments. This dates back as far as the Angkorian period, when there was a group of musicians called the ''{{lang|km|kongpit/ kongpeat''}}. Organized music in this period was centered around religious and royal organizations. On one side, two groups of musician served the Khmer brahmins and the buddhists, while on the other side, the pinpheat reflected the power of the Angkorian monarch.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://thebackways.com/?p=2362|title=ប្រវត្តិភ្លេងបុរាណខ្មែរ "ពិណពាទ្យ" ដែលខ្មែរយើងយល់ច្រឡំថាជារបស់ថៃ|website=ទុកផ្លូវក្រោយ|language=km|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref>

The pinpheat may have debuted in Southeast Asia during the first Khmer kingdom of [[Funan]] (1st-6th century AD). During that kingdom's existence, Indian religions, culture and traditions were introduced to Southeast Asia, beginning as early as the 1st century a.d. During the Funan period, there was a group of musicians called ''pinpang'', and the [[pin (harp)|pin]] was used as an instrument in the group. During the reign of Funan king Fan Chan (or Fan Siyon), 225-250 a.d., the country "entered relations" with the Murunda Dynasty, who ruled [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] in India.<ref name="vella">{{cite book |editor1-last= Vella|editor1-first= Walter F|last1=Coedès |first1= George |date=1968 |title= Les états hindouisés d'Indochine et d'Indonésie |trans-title= The Indianized States of South-East Asia|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iDyJBFTdiwoC&lpg=PA41&dqq=king%20+%22Fan-chan%22&pg=PA40#v=onepage&q=king%20%22Fan-chan%22&f=false |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn= 0-8248-0368-X|pages= 40–42|quote=between 225 and 250...first to enter into official and direct relations with the princes of India...according to the ''History of the Three Kingdoms'', who in 243 'sent an embassy [to China] to offer a present of musicians and products to the country'}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Kalia|first= Ravi |date= 1994 |title= Bhubaneswar: From a Temple Town to a Capital City |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=F2YSPiKbmHkC&lpg=PA17&dqq=%22murunda%22%20dynasty+dynasty%2C%20kushana+kushana&pg=PA17#v=onepage&q=%22murunda%22%20dynasty,%20kushana&f=false|location=Carbondale and Edwardsville, Illinois |publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |page=17 |isbn= 9780809318766|author-link=|quote= BhuddismBuddhism reasserted itself in Kalinga under the Murunda dynasty in the third century A.D.}}</ref>

King Fan Chan is also known today for establishing relations with a ruler in Southern China during the [[Three Kingdoms]] period, sending as a present some musicians and products of the country to the "Kingdom of Kra Vo under the reign of the King Sun Chorn" (sometimes labeled "Chinese Emperor") in Southern China in 243 a.d.<ref name="vella" /><ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Royal Ballet July 2008 |url= https://khmerbamboo.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/khmerclassicaldanceenglish.pdf |location=Cambodia |publisher= Cambodia Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts With the contribution of UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust|page=v53 |date=2008 |isbn=|quote=(A.D. 240 – 243), the King Fan Siyon had Khmer dance and orchestra. He sent his performing team to the Kingdom of Kra Vo under the reign of the King Sun Chorn in Southern China. The orchestra was Pin Peat... }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Sagar|first= Krishna Chandra|date= 2002|title=An Era of Peace |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zq6KlY1MnE8C&lpg=PA60&dqq=Fan-chan%2C%20243%20ad+243+ad&pg=PA60#v=onepage&q=Fan-chan,%20243%20ad&f=false|location= |publisher= Northern Book Center|page= 60|isbn= 9788172111212|author-link=}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://peacepost.asia/2017/07/30/the-dawn-of-ancient-khmer-chinese-relations/|title=The Dawn of Ancient Khmer-Chinese Relations|website=Peace Post Asia|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> Another record mentioned the Khmer musicians from [[Funan]] which visited China in 236 CE. The Chinese emperor was so impressed that he even ordered the institute of Funanese music near [[Nanjing|Naking]].<ref>D.R.Sardesai, ''Southeast Asia: Past And Present'', 3rd ed. 1994, Westview Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8133-1706-9}}, p.23</ref><ref name=":2" /> Another Chinese source also mentioned the famous music of Funan (Cambodia) that became popular<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://en.chiculture.net/en/index.php?file=topic_details&old_id=30024|title=China's Cultural Exchange with Southeast Asia|website=en.chiculture.net|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> and was played at the courts of [[Sui dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] dynasties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Altera/funan.html|title=Funan 扶南 (www.chinaknowledge.de)|last=Theobald|first=Ulrich|website=www.chinaknowledge.de|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> This “Funan music” was a ritual music and dance form with Buddhist coloring from the pre-Angkorian kingdom of Funan (Khmer, Nokor Phnom).<ref name=":3" />

==== Pinpeat musics used for [[Lakhon Khol|Khol]] Masked Drama and [[Khmer shadow theatre|Sbek Thom]] (Khmer Shadow theatre) ====

# Bot Khlom: played during the march of [[devata]]<nowiki/>s, [[Indra]] episode

==== Pinpeat Song narrating Khmer daily activities ====

==== Pinpeat Songs related with Khmer neighbors; Chen ([[Chinese people|Chinese]]), Chvea ([[Javanese people|Javanese]]), Leav ([[Lao people|Laotian]]), [[Mon people|Mon]], Pumea ([[Bamar people|Bamar]]), and [[Kuy language|Kuy]].= ===

==== Pinpeat Songs that describe others ====

* Accompanied in the yoyalroyal festivities such as [[Water Festival|Royal Boats Racing]], and [[Royal Ploughing Ceremony|Royal Plowing]],.....etc

* Accompanied in Buddhist celebrations and rituals such as [[Pchum Ben|Pchhum Ben]], [[Kathina|Kathin]], Bon Pkar, Bonchos Seima, and funerals,..etc

* Accompanied in traditional dances [[Robam Jumpor]] (blessing dance), [[Robam Tep Monorum]], [[Royal ballet of Cambodia|Robam Apsara]], [[Robam Sovan Maccha]],..etc and traditional dramas and shows such as [[Lakhon Khol|Khol]], [[Khmer shadow theatre|Sbek Thum and Sbek Touch]] (shadow plays), Puppet Show, [[Reamker]] Drama,...etc. Sometimes this ensemble can be performed in other local rituals as well.

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120325175410/http://www.keosambathmusic.com/index.htm Khmer PinPeat] (In English)

[[Category:CambodianMusic musicof Cambodia]]