This song builds upon the roaring 1960's style, when Rock and Roll was flowering in Cambodia. It was composed for the play What Are You Now by Sam Chanse that was performed in New York in 2023 and in Lowell, Mass in May 2025. The lyrics was compiled from Bhudist dharma by Trent Walker and edited by HIM Sophy.
Singers: Marie France Arcilla (Bhopa), Marc de la Cruz (Sam), Ieng Sithul (Abott and Sam's grandfather); All music by HIM Sophy; and libretto by Catherine Filloux. Opera Director: Robert McQueen, Producer: John Burt. Read more
Singers: Marie France Arcilla (Bhopa), Marc de la Cruz (Sam), Ieng Sithul (Abott and Sam's grandfather); All music by HIM Sophy; and libretto by Catherine Filloux. Opera Director: Robert McQueen, Producer: John Burt. Commissioned by Cambodian Living Art. These 10 songs from Where Elephants Weep were recorded in 2007 after preview performances in Lowell USA.
A special musician was the banjo player, who was played by my brother, HIM Sarim. He was a legendary musician who could play a lot musical instruments very well. He passed away after our trip in Lowell USA in April 2007. You can hear him very clearly in Duet Tum Teav 1&2.
During the 1970s, civil war began to spread throughout Cambodia. My father often took me and my family away from the fighting, from one village to another neighboring village. During the day we were afraid of bombers and Read more
During the 1970s, civil war began to spread throughout Cambodia. My father often took me and my family away from the fighting, from one village to another neighboring village. During the day we were afraid of bombers and at night we were afraid of being kidnapped by Khmer Rouge guerrillas. Our life at that time was in a dead end and in fear all the time…. After April 17, 1975 The Khmer Rouge communists evacuated Phnom Penh, causing all sorts of devastation through famine, forced labor and brutal murders. In 1976, I was assigned to a mobile youth unit where the Khmer Rouge leaders only gave us each 18 kernels of boiled corn to eat. I witnessed the beating with a big and long stick. The Khmer Rouge invited people to study, but instead arrested those who showed interest. I saw these prisoners dragging carts with bodies, their skin covered their bones, starved and forced to work hard…. My oldest brother and his family was killed by the Khmer Rouge communists . My fifth brother was also brutally killed by them…. There are many stories that cannot be told during times of war and during the Pol Pot genocide. HIM Sophy
Music for contemporary Cambodian dance. Performed first time at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1992.
