ចំប៉ាបាត់ដំបង | Champa Battambang by ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត (Sinn Sisamouth), arr. Rasa Mahmoudian

In 1965, the famous artist Sin Sisamouth (1933-1976) wrote “Champa Battambang" ("The Flower of Battambang"), which was the first content played on the Khmer Republic Television. It is a love song about a man who misses his hometown and the woman he had to leave behind. Both the song and its singer are deeply embedded in Cambodian culture. This romantic ballad reminds us that true love and family ties live forever in our hearts.
In the 1970s, the regime called the Khmer Rouge destroyed so many artists and musicians, including Mr. Sisamouth, as part of the Cambodian Genocide which killed over 2 million people and resulted in refugee families fleeing Cambodia. This beautiful song is a legacy that Cambodians will never leave behind.
- Adapted from comments by Savi Chhorm
Featuring Punisa Pov, roneat ak; Rasa Mahmoudian and Jennifer Leckie, violins; Seth Pae, viola; Tom Clowes, cello; Aidan Kranz, videography; and Miyu Morita, sound. Arranged by Rasa Mahmoudian.
Filmed at the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
This video is from the project “Cambodian Day of Remembrance: Stories and Music for Healing,” which commemorates those who lost their lives in the Cambodian Genocide while celebrating the resilience of Cambodian people. The project is a collaboration between singer/storytellers Celina Chin, Saroth Loeuk, and Pich Houy; the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial and its Resident Artist Punisa Pov; the Cambodian Association of Illinois; storyteller Ada Cheng; filmmaker Thavary Krouch; and Crossing Borders Music. It is supported in part by the Albert Pick, Jr Fund, Illinois Humanities, the Asian Giving Circle of the Chicago Community Trust, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

[@vicchara]

Mr. Sinn Sisamouth is smiling proudly from heaven for your beautiful rendition of his masterpiece. Thank you

[@lionessprowess3581]

What hurts my heart is finding out how wrong Mister Sinn Sisamuth was about how the new regime would treat his family. Not only did the Khmer Rouge murdered him, his family lost all of their wealth and status until this day. His last words to his wife was, “don’t worry. I’m famous. No one will hurt you or our family.” The very least the Khmer government should do is pay his family royalty. Everyone is allowed to sing and cover his songs whenever they please. Thank you everyone for covering the music so beautifully. If Mister Sinn was alive, I am sure he would love it to pieces.

[@hf..7271]

500% 🙏🙏🙏indeed ❤❤❤❤

[@vishnu9787]

❤❤❤❤

[@mrbaconfearsucks838]

Well back in cambodia we never use violins in that type of song. Yeah Actually

[@khimchy5248]

Beautiful music reminiscing the good old days in Battambang.

[@annaom7764]

អស្ចារ៌ណាស់ សូមអគុណលោកដែល ស្រឡាញ់ប្រពៃនីខ្មែរ 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💕💕💕🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ringfitnopinkies]

Simply beautiful. Imagine if this was done by an entire orchestra…

[@sovannahong6472]

Beautiful.

[@YaYa-my3et]

បានស្តាប់ពិតជារំភើបណាស់ ❤❤

[@09Bora]

So beautiful and thanks for bringing this romantic music up for us who love classic cheers the King Sinn Sisamouth.

[@plcgaming5870]

អូ ពិតជាអស្ចារ្យណាស់🇰🇭🇰🇭🥰🥰

[@SuperKimara1]

So melodious. Very touching. Thank you🥰

[@pxchhim]

One time for Cambodia.

[@sophc868]

This piece really struck a chord in me and made me cry. It is beautiful, thank you!

[@Jerry-Cam]

I am very impressed, sounds just as good as the original version. You guys did an amazing job!

[@mengchhorngbarber1269]

ខ្ញុំសុំណូមពរបទ រាត្រីមាត់ស្ទឹងសង្កែ អរគុណទុកជាមុនបង ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻

[@leukhemroth3888]

Truly amazing, indeed 😍

[@narithi8719]

Très jolie ❤

[@ratanatepynarin1218]

this is a MASTERPIECE

[@raksmeyroeum4389]

Absolutely amazing! Beautiful ❤️

[@ssou888]

Love this arrangement ❤️❤️❤️

[@makaraphin9765]

Thanks you Crossing Modern Music, it is very nice music

[@Yovo555]

ពីរោះណាស់

[@pheanonnyann6920]

តន្ត្រីករក៏ស្រស់ស្អាត តន្រ្តីក៏ពិរោះ

[@thimvannthai7017]

អស្ចារ្យណាស់

[@just_anormalperson01387]

i love this 😄

[@YaYa-my3et]

Very Good Sound, I love so much❤❤❤❤❤

[@sokthearithputh9930]

So beautiful, really admired it. Well everyone!

[@ryanbo4045]

Excellent!
You all need to do it all over again without face masks.😊

[@user-nz6ib2uj8g]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MrKaikeo]

Beautiful!!!! Much respect for bringing that song to life. Next song please is “Violetta” 🙏

[@dantecheak4086]

Great

[@jeniseengly9356]

I am always fascinated and impressed to hear a piece of our Cambodian music renditioned by foreigners. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Well done!

[@crossingbordersmusic]

Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been an honor and a joy to be invited to learn Khmer music with the musicians of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum. Their Resident Artist Nisa Pov is playing roneat ek here.

[@seun9957]

😁Sounds so good!

[@brochhai1974]

ពិរោះ🇰🇭🇰🇭🥰🥰

[@pinkrose076]

Beautiful ❤️🥰

[@reajjasey7024]

ពិតជាពិរោះណាស់ ចូលចិត្តភ្លេងបែបនេះ

[@elrothaelrotha1566]

ពិរោះណាស់

[@panarachhang9866]

Wow, this's amazing.

[@saaem4045]

ពិរោះណាស់❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🇰🇭

[@beautifulnature4964]

Beautiful

[@elitesannhong9889]

ពិរេាះណាស់ សូមសសេីរចេះលេងចូលគ្នាបាន

[@jeanbauer994]

Great Music 🥰

[@vitouvuon6000]

Thanks so much for this beautiful music. Could we invite you to Cambodia one day?

[@crossingbordersmusic]

YES! 🥰

[@kimcolor2975]

💕💕💕🎼

[@khmerjamesgoodness8712]

🥰👍👍👍

[@khoeuntith684]

❤️

[@melsamphou9515]

ពីរោះខ្លាំងណាស់❤️😽

[@crossingbordersmusic]

អរគុណ

[@321thach]

You guy are amazing

[@crossingbordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@benzphone4218]

ពិរោះខ្មាំងណាស់ស្រទន់ដក់ជាប់ដួងចិត្តកាលនៅក្មេងៗ

[@soratsindy5358]

♥♥♥

[@sunnybothcambo2534]

👍💝💝💝💝

[@mosheridan7016]

Masks off please