Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia
Phnoung and Tampuan Peoples

Gourd, bamboo, black paste
Mid 20th century
Aerophones – Free Aerophones – Free Reed

The ploy is free reed mouthorgan from Cambodia.  This ploy consists of a gourd body with an extended stem that serves as the pipe for the mouthpiece.  Five bamboo tubes pass through the gourd and protrude from the body at an almost right angle to the gourd.  Musicians blow air through the gourd stem, which fills the hallow gourd “wind chest” and exits through the bamboo tubes.  Each of the bamboo sound-tubes has a cut reed inside that vibrates when the air passes through the tube.  Different pitches are produced by covering and uncovering the small holes cut into the bamboo sound tubes on the side.  The musician can also change the pitch by sucking out the air.  This instrument is primarily rural and is found mainly in the Mondulkiri Province among the Phnoung and Tampuan peoples.

Resource: “Traditional Musical Instruments of Cambodia,” Yun Khean, ‘UNESCO Office Phnom Penh.’