Reamker - Ta Krut's version from 1965 and 1968, Presented by Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center

"Ta Krut" or "Neay Maha Krut"

The recordings featured on this CD are those of a storyteller who is a native of Skoun and called himseft “Ta Krut” or “Neay Maha Krut”. His exceptional talent made him the most famous storyteller in the country.

These recordings of the Reamker recited by Ta Krut are, as far as we know, the only documents of this type that have been preserved. They were done in two very different situations. One part was recorded around 1965 in the studios of Radiodiffusion Nationale Khmère. Ta Krut held a recitation session there, and Jacques Brunet was able to preserve a copy. The second part of the recordings was done at Jacques Brunet’s request, in 1968, outdoors and in public, in the village of Rokakong. Jacques Brunet then wanted to compare the two versions. This method of proceeding explains the very different sound ambiances between the studio version and the public version.

This record of Ta Krut has been restored by Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center with the advice of Professor Alain Daniel and the support of UNESCO and Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO.

To listen to the audio recordings:

1- Click on this link: http://www.bophana.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=137&lang=en

2- Click on the photo of each CD to listen to the content of that CD online.

Heng Soy's Note: Have you ever seen the book "Reamker" by Ta Krut? After listening to this audio CDs, I was able to correct several of my misconceptions:

• Ta Krut is from Kampong Cham, not Siem Reap as I always thought he was.
• Ta Krut lived in Cambodia in the 60s, not in the 18th or 19th century
• Words used by Ta Krut to retell the story made me laugh so hard. I always thought the "holy" story would be very serious.
• Last by not least, you can still catch a cold in this hot weather (I'm laughing while sneezing and coughing like a "chien Mardi manger" or in Khmer: ឆ្កែ អង្គែ ស៊ី)