2017 House Programs A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol

BANGSOKOL IS A VITAL ACT OF MEMORY A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol is a multi- disciplinary stage production combining music, film, movement and voice. It is the first major symphonic work addressing the years of the Khmer Rouge and the first collaboration between contemporaries Rithy Panh and Him Sophy, both survivors of the genocide and now at the forefront of Cambodia’s cultural renaissance. Composer Him Sophy’s score combines traditional Khmer instrumentalists and smot chanting with a Western chamber orchestra and chorus. Rithy Panh’s poetic visuals blend archive footage, abstract and surreal imagery to capture the very essence of Cambodia’s culture and history. In Cambodian culture, a “bangsokol” ceremony is performed as a key part of Buddhist funeral rites. This word references both the white cloth placed over the deceased during a Buddhist funeral and the ritual surrounding the removal of the cloth. It is this act that signifies transmigration into the next life: the ritual through which the spirits of the dead find rest. A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol hopes to serve as an inspiration for post-conflict societies around the world—to rebuild, transmit and innovate through arts. It offers a space for healing for those who have suffered violent conflict and forced migration, and honors those who have passed away. With a cast of performers from the emerging to the iconic, A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol is an essential act of memory, reconciliation and peace. Cambodian Living Arts is proud to commission this unique piece, based on an original idea by co-founder Charley Todd. A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol encapsulates their 20 years of work in the field of arts for transformation and healing, from the revival and transmission of cultural heritage, to nurturing cultural leadership and stimulating creativity. bangsokol.cambodianlivingarts.org " បង្ស ក ល " ជាស្ន ដ ស ខា ន មួយបង្ហ ញ ពីការរំឭក "បង្ស ក ល "៖ ការរំឭកដល់កម្ព ជា គឺជា ស្ន ដ ថ ម ្ម យ ដោយរួមបញ្ច ល គ្ន ន វ ូ បទភ្ល ង ថ្មី ការបញ្ច ង ា កុនឯកសារ ចលនាសម្ដ ង និងចម្រៀង។ នេះជាស្ន ដ ត ន្រ ដ ្ត ប ង គ ដ ល បង្ហ ញ ពីរបបខ្ម រ ែ ក្រហម ហើយនេះក៏ជាការ សហការគ្ន ជា លើកដំប ង រវាង លោកបណ្ឌ ត ប៉ ន ់ ឫទ្ធី និងលោកសាស្រ ា ្ត ចារ្យបណ្ឌ ត ហ៊ ម សុភី ដែលពួកគាត់ទា ង ពីរជាប គ ល ដែលបាននៅរស់រានមានជីវ ត ពីរបបមួយនោះ ហើយព ល ន ះ

2017 House Programs A Requiem for Cambodia: Bangsokol | Page 4