Saung

Introduction to the Mynamar Golden Harp: Saung

Saung

The Myanmar saung, or the golden harp, is a plucked string instrument. It is one of the earliest musical instruments in Myanmar, and supposedly originated from the Pyu region, located in the south part of Myanmar, during the Pyu period (circa 800 A.D.). Although the shape of the saung has changed relatively throughout the years, the basic shape is same. There is the Saung Owe, which is the body of the saung; the saung kyo, which is the strings of the saung, which should be tuned and played. The strings are attached to the Min Yoe at the Let Yone,  the bending stick. When all the strings are strung, they are tuned individually. Tuning varies according to the type of song. 

The saung was played often in courts. In ancient time, the saung consisted of three strings. Later, it added four more to a total of seven strings. In the Koubon period, the minister Myawaddy Mingyi U invented the instrument with 13 strings. Later an additional string was added. During the World War II, harpist Alanka Kyaw Zwa U Ba Than used 16 strings. The final added two strings are called Done Kyo.

The music of Myanmar has seven tunes derived from the harp. It can be assumed that musical tones such as Palei and Aukpyan developed from it.

Myanmar scales in relation to Western scales (Yangonow) 

Based on the table of Myanmar scales, modern tuning uses an easier technique based on the Western tuning system. For example, the C note from Western European music scale is used as the base. They take Hint (two) Pauk (1/4 lower from B), Nga (five) Pauk (1/4 higher from F), Chauk (six) Pauk (1/4 lower from E) and etc. Due to this form of tuning, the traditional method of tuning is much less preferred, but there are saung players who can manage to preserve the tradition.


The music of Myanmar is also influences by several different cultures. There is use of pentatonic scale (influence from China). Classical Myanmar music is also heavily influenced by Mon music (Mahagita). 


Mahagita means "royal" or "great" song. They are songs used in royal Myanmar courts, and is the basis not only for the music of instrumental ensembles, but also theatre music and puppet theatre music. Mahagita consists of different song "types". Because all songs were learned aurally, there were no notations of the music. 


Some examples of Mahagita include: Kyo, Bwe, and Tachin Hkan songs, which are the believed to be the oldest types, and are played on the Khin Lone scale; Patt Pyou songs, which are popular in court music and is a majority in the Mahagita is played on the Auk Pyun scale; Loung Chin, which are songs of longing; Lei Dwei Than Kat is a group of two special songs also played on the Auk Pyun scale.