Skor yike

Overview

The skor yike is a family of Cambodian frame drums named after, and closely associated with, yike, a form of Khmer musical theatre. The drums have a shallow circular wooden frame and a single membrane head, and are played with the hands. They function as the rhythmic centre of the yike ensemble and also appear in other folk and ceremonial settings.

Origin & History

Yike theatre is generally considered to have developed under influences from Cham and Malay music in addition to Khmer roots, and the skor yike is its signature instrument. The drums come in different sizes within the family, played together to produce interlocking rhythms. Specific historical dating is uncertain, but yike has been performed in Cambodia for several centuries.

How It’s Played

Players hold or rest the drum and strike the head with the hands, producing a range of bass and open tones. In a yike performance several drums of different pitches play together, building cyclic rhythmic patterns that frame the singing and acting. The drum patterns are conventional rather than improvised: experienced players know the rhythms appropriate to each scene type and dramatic moment.

Cultural Significance

The skor yike is inseparable from yike theatre, which combines song, narrative, dialogue, and dance. Yike performances often draw on legends, religious stories, and historical themes, and the drum patterns help signal mood, action, and dramatic changes. Like much of Cambodian performing arts, the tradition was severely damaged in the late twentieth century and has been gradually rebuilt by surviving artists and cultural institutions.

Related Instruments

• Skor daey – a Cambodian hand-played goblet drum
• Skor thom – a large Cambodian barrel drum used in pinpeat
• Bendir – a North African frame drum
• Bodhrán – an Irish frame drum
• Riq – a small Arabic frame drum

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the skor yike one drum or several?
It is a family of drums of different sizes used together within an ensemble.

What is yike theatre?
A form of Khmer musical theatre combining song, dialogue, narrative, and dance, with the skor yike as its signature accompaniment.

Is yike still performed today?
Yes. After major disruption in the late twentieth century, yike performance has been gradually revived through cultural training programmes and festival performances.

Image: photograph by CamBo Media, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).