Skip to main content

Myanmar: Music by the Hsaing Waing Orchestra: The Burmese Harp

Hsaing Waing Orchestra
Myanmar: Music by the Hsaing Waing Orchestra: The Burmese Harp

The music of Burma (officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar) is characterized by two types of music: chamber music played solo on instruments such as the Burmese harp, and orchestra music played primarily on percussion instruments. Yet, according to ethnomusicologist Jacques Brunet, Burmese music is almost entirely vocal in origin, “and each composition—even an instrumental one—can be recalled merely by singing the words of the poem which give it individual character. The great families of musicians (music is often passed on from father to son) still know the entire repertoire by heart, as music is learnt from the outset by repeating the words while practicing on the instrument.”

Disc one features chamber music performed on the Burmese harp. Constructed with13 strings, the harp is considered by the Burmese to be their national instrument. Disc two presents orchestra music performed by a hsaing waing ensemble. Hsaing waing is traditional music played primarily on percussion instruments featuring the pat waing, a 21-drum set in ascending size arranged in a circle.  Included among the selections is music played as the overture to court performances of the Ramayana.

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Maung Min Zaw
10:19
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Maung Kyay
04:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Maung Kyay
13:22
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Maung Kyay
04:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Maung That Win
02:48
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Maung That Win
04:07
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Maung That Win
05:16
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Maung That Win
06:50
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Maung That Win
06:20
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Maung That Win
05:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
201
Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay
12:51
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
202
Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay
08:19
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
203
Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay
08:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
204
Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay
08:10
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
205
Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay
19:45