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

101	In the midst of the flower garden (pulé mode) Maung Min Zaw	10:19
102	Sombre climate (pulé mode) Maung Kyay	04:54
103	The girl Yamonna (autpyin mode) Maung Kyay	13:22
104	Flowers on the river (myinzaing mode) Maung Kyay	04:01
105	In praise of the city of Mandalay (pulé mode) Maung That Win	02:48
106	The beauty of the skies (pulé mode) Maung That Win	04:07
107	Invocation of the Buddha (thanyu mode) Maung That Win	05:16
108	The king in love (thanyu mode) Maung That Win	06:50
109	The lotus shines on the lake (autpyin mode) Maung That Win	06:20
110	On the hill (autpyin mode) Maung That Win	05:45
201	The seven dances Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay	12:51
202	Yama (The dance of Rama) Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay	08:19
203	To the right on the mountain Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay	08:45
204	The forest of Kanda Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay	08:10
205	The garland of flowers in full bloom Hsaing waing orchestra of Master Sein Tin Htay	19:45