Orchestras played a prominent part in all these festivals, and are described in several inscriptions. They also appear on the reliefs of Angkor Wat and Bayon. There were various kinds of percussion instruments, They also appear on the reliefs of Angkor Wat and Bayon. There were various kinds of percussion instruments, drums of clay or wood, gongs, cymbals. strings and wind, and also singers. Smaller ensembles had to be present each morning at the first visit to the temple deity, to play at the most sacred moment.Each temple appears also to have had its own dance troupe but they do not seem to have been kept in conditions akin to slavery as was the case in India The largest temples had huge dance corps- more than a thousand in Preah Khan and Ta Prohm at Angkor.
One scene on a relief near the north-east corner of Bayon depicts strolling players. They are boatmen, demonstrating their prowess in the presence of the king.