Characteristics of Burmese Music

Burmese music is also characterized by its musical instruments and instrumental music. The most important national musical instrument of Myanmar is the bowed harp, which is unique to Myanmar and was called the wind-headed konghou during the Tang Dynasty in China. The shape of the bowed harp is very beautiful, the golden leaf at the top of the curved neck is a symbol of the linden leaf, and its *** sounding body is carved from a piece of wood in the shape of a boat, covered with a piece of red deerskin, surrounded by golden wavy patterns, together with the red bands and spikes fluttering around the neck of the harp, which makes the instrument look very elegant, refined and graceful. The strings of the zither are generally 13 to 16, and are set according to the pentatonic scale, and the musician places the zither in his lap and holds it in front of his chest to play. Its earliest use was to accompany singing. Nowadays, it is often played solo or in ensemble with other instruments. The sound of the koto is fresh, elegant and melodious. In the past, the masters who played the zither were called "heavenly musicians". In Myanmar, not only musicians but also intellectuals play the kyat and appreciate its music as an essential cultural skill. The musical characteristics and timbre of the kyat have influenced the overall style of instrumental music in Myanmar.