Why go
Music can explain a performance's purpose before its words do. The saung harp belongs to a long court tradition, while the hsaing waing percussion ensemble accompanies public celebrations and forms of theatre. Nat ceremonies, puppet theatre and court dance call on different settings and sounds. Listen for the instruments and the occasion rather than treating them as one national style.
The full story
The saung, a Burmese harp, is among the best known instruments of Myanmar's court music. Traditional performance also draws on percussion. A hsaing waing ensemble centers on a circle of tuned drums and may include gongs, an oboe like wind instrument and cymbals. Its sound belongs to outdoor celebrations and stage forms as well as religious occasions. Nat pwe performances invoke spirits through music and dance; yokthe pwe is puppet theatre, while zat performance has its own dramatic tradition. These are different forms, even when they share instruments or audiences. The musical landscape also extends well beyond the Bamar court tradition. Kachin music has been shaped in part by Christian hymns, while Shan gong and wind instrument traditions reflect another setting. Contemporary pop, rock and rap add other sounds in towns and cities. A performance's setting and purpose tell visitors as much as the melody does.