The ''pey au'' (sometimes spelled ''pei au'' or ''pei ar'') (Khmer: ប៉ីអ) is a Cambodian musical instrument, similar to a flute but using a set of

double reed A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. In contrast with a single reed instrument, where the instrument is played by channeling air against one piece of cane which vibrates against the mouthpiece and c ...

s to produce sound. The instrument uses an external reed, cut from a prebos tree and flattened with small strips of ratan. The bundle is insterted into a hold at the top of the flute part of the instrument, creating a mouthpiece. The instrument's body is made of "narrow bore bamboo", narrower than that used for the ''

khloy A khloy ( km, ខ្លុយ, Burmese: ပုလွေ, ) is an ancient traditional bamboo flute from Cambodia and more specifically the Khmer people. The khloy and other similar bamboo flutes can be found throughout Asia, due to bamboo’s abu ...

'' vertical flute and ''

pey pok Pey may refer to: People * José Miguel Pey de Andrade (1763–1838), Colombian statesman * Pey de Garros (1530–1585), Occitan poet * Víctor Pey (1915–2018), Spanish engineer, professor, and businessman Places * Pey, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquit ...

''. The instrument gives the pitch to be used in aareak and phleng kar wedding orchestras. Pitches are not standardized in Cambodia, although the spaces between pitches is. The instrument is ancient and predates the

Angkor Angkor ( km, អង្គរ , 'Capital city'), also known as Yasodharapura ( km, យសោធរបុរៈ; sa, यशोधरपुर),Headly, Robert K.; Chhor, Kylin; Lim, Lam Kheng; Kheang, Lim Hak; Chun, Chen. 1977. ''Cambodian-Engl ...

(9th—15th centuries A.D.), and has played with the aareak and aapeapipa orchestras for as long.

References

{{Cambodia-stub Cambodian musical instruments