Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill (CLCOCH) has been called one of the most diverse churches in the Twin Cities area. It is part of the ELCA Synod and was founded in 1868 by Scandinavian immigrants. In the late 1970's, CLCOCH became involved in ministry to Southeast Asian refugees fleeing from Communism in their native countries. The church still has a strong Scandinavian following which results in a unique cultural mix within the church community.

The director of the Cambodian choir at CLCOCH is Bun Loeung. On April 29,2001, we talked with him, choir member Kathryn Mao, and choir accompanist Paul Swenson.

Bun Loeung is a musician who came to the U.S. in 1981 from the refugee camps in Thailand and Kao-I-Dong, amidst the Khmer Rouge fighting. A fellow Cambodian musician in St. Paul sponsored him, and he settled here not far from Christ Lutheran Church. In 1992, Paul Swenson (then the church organist, now the Khmer choir accompanist) was given an assignment by Marvin Sandness, then the pastor of the church. He wanted to incorporate more Cambodian music into the church service. Paul and Bun Loeung began working together. Their talents and musical knowledge complemented one another perfectly. Paul knew how to read music and could teach Bun Loeung the written melodies; Bun Loeung knew the Cambodian language and musical idiom and could teach Paul. They worked on several Cambodian tune arrangements and Western hymns this way.

Bun Loeung plays the dro ("droh"), the stringed instrument below, and the khim, a hammered dulcimer played with bamboo mallets. He learned to play music as a child in Cambodia. He tells the story of how he worked at the barbershop, watching the shop while the owner went to lunch. There was a dro hanging on the wall of the barbershop, and he taught himself to play it while waiting for the owner's return.

[Sound Sample: "Ashes from the Incense are Falling." Also adapted for the Cambodian hymnal by Sarin Som as "O Lord, Come Soon"]

Bun Loeung plays dro:

Mp3 Download (1.79 MB)

RealMedia File (126 KB; plays as it's downloading)

Bun Loeung

Not long after their collaboration began, Bun Loeung and Paul formed a Khmer choir in the church as part of the expanding musical involvement of the Cambodian community. Their special teamwork continued in this medium as well. When the choir performs, Bun Loeung directs the singers, plays dro during the interludes, and signals the end of the song. Paul accompanies on the piano and incorporates the rhythmic and melodic qualities of Cambodian music into his playing. Pictured below are the members of the choir present on the day of our interview.

List of choir members:
Loeung Bun - Leader, dro player
Sarath Bun (M)
Thaly Chhour (F)
Rim Neth (F)
Huy Himmtann (F)
Kathryn Mao
Chan Both (M)
Kuong Kong (M with daughter)
Paul Swenson - Piano accompanist

In 1994, the Christian & Missionary Alliance produced a Cambodian hymnal which is published in Thailand and distributed in Ontario, CA. From then on, this hymnal was the main source of repertoire for the choir. The first half of the hymnal consists of Western hymns translated into Cambodian. The second half has traditional Cambodian tunes that have been adapted into Christian hymns, and original Christian songs. Most of the original songs and text settings are by two Cambodian composers: Sarin Som and Barnabus Mom.

[Sound sample: "One Day We'll See Him Face to Face"] Mp3 Download --Khmer Choir

Bun Loeung's musical activities reach beyond the church as well. He plays concerts and weddings (Western in addition to Cambodian), and he is part of a group called the New International Trio. These musicians play traditional Cambodian instruments in a variety of styles: folk, classical, even Western jazz. He also gives weekly music lessons on a number of instruments:

Dro, a bowed instrument with 2 strings tuned a 5th apart; the bow is between the strings. Khim, a hammered dulcimer, played with bamboo mallets.

Takhe ("tah-KAY"), a stringed instrument with a large resonator box, played with a plectrum shaped like the stub of a pencil. The strings aren't really plucked, but the plectrum moves between them, producing a mandolin-like effect.

Roneat ("roh-NAY-et"), a xylophone-like instrument, with bamboo bars suspended over a curved resonator box.

All of these instruments can serve as melody, embellishing, or accompanying instruments.

[Picture of instruments, from photo]

The dro and the khim are specialties of his. While observing his lessons one week, I saw three students: a man who has been studying with Bun Loeung for a year, a boy who has been studying for six weeks, and a boy who is a brand new student (his first lesson was that day). Bun would indicate which song to play and the students would play it on the khim. Bun would then take up the melody on the dro, embellishing it and, after several verses, signal the end. During this lesson, one particular song was played again and again. According to Kathryn Mao, this song is called "Mynah Bird," and it is a typical first piece to learn when studying these instruments.

Cambodian websites available:

Dr. Sam-Ang Sam's websites about Cambodian art and music (including a link to a picture of the pinn peat ensemble):

http://research.umbc.edu/efhm/cambodia/index.htm
http://research.umbc.edu/efhm/cambodia/histcmus.htm

Information about Cambodian court music:

http://www.netaxs.com/~tskramer/music.html

A web page that contains sound samples:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/4515/index1.html

A Cambodian music store:

http://www.sayonarasound.com

Activity of the Christian church in Cambodia:

http://www.sao-cambodia.org

For maps and information on the Cambodian population in Minnesota and the Twin Cities, click this link:

http://www-map.lib.umn.edu/bessie/cambodian.html

Address and Contact Information:

105 W. University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-222-3619
Email: koopmans@wavetech.net

Worship every Sun. at 9:30 a.m.
Adult forum/Sunday school follows at 10:45 a.m.