View source for Saung

{{Short description|Burmese traditional musical instrument}}
{{Other uses|Burmese Harp (disambiguation)}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox instrument
|name=Saung
|names=
|image=Saung-Gauk.jpg
|caption= ''Saùng-Gauk'', 19th century
|alt=
|background=string
|classification=[[String instrument]] ([[Pizzicato|plucked]])
|hornbostel_sachs=[[Hornbostel–Sachs#Harps (322)|322]]
*322.1 Open harps – The harp has no pillar.
**[[List of musical instruments by Hornbostel-Sachs number: 322.11|322.11]] [[Arched harps]].
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = The plane of the strings lies perpendicular to the resonator's surface, the neck curves away from the resonator.
|range=
|related={{bulleted list|Persian [[Chang (instrument)|chang]]|Cambodian [[Pin (harp)|pin]]|[[Arched Harp]]|''T'na''<ref>Sadie Stanley, ed. (1984). "T'na". The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. Vol. 3. Macmillan. p. 601</ref> or ''na den''<ref>Sadie Stanley, ed. (1984). "Na den". The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. Vol. 2. Macmillan. p. 736</ref>}}
|articles=
}}

The '''''saung''''' ([[Burmese language|Burmese]]: [[wikt:စောင်း|စောင်း]], MLCTS caung; also known as the '''''saung-gauk''''' ([[wikt:စောင်းကောက်|စောင်းကောက်]]): {{IPA|my|sáʊɰ̃ɡaʊʔ|IPA}}, '''Burmese harp''', '''[[Burma]] harp''', or '''Myanmar harp'''), is an [[arched harp]] used in traditional [[Music of Burma|Burmese music]]. The ''saung'' is regarded as a national musical instrument of Burma.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myanmar - Burmese harp (saung-gauk) |author= |work=[[Royal Collection Trust]] |date= |access-date=8 March 2023 |url= https://www.rct.uk/collection/74400/burmese-harp-saung-gauk}}</ref> The ''saung'' is unique in that it is a very ancient harp tradition and is said to be the only surviving harp in Asia.<ref>Miller, Terry E. and [[Sean Williams (ethnomusicologist)|Sean Williams]]. ''The Garland handbook of Southeast Asian music''. Routledge, 2008. {{ISBN|0-415-96075-4}}</ref><ref>However the site [http://www.harphistory.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30%3Aharp-10&catid=7%3Abestaande-instrumenten&lang=nl Harp History] site mentions that a similar instrument, called (according to the site) the ''pin nam tao'', whose picture is shown on the site, is played in Thailand today, the main difference being (according to the site) that the Burmese arched harp has <u>13 strings</u> while the Thai arched harp has <u>15 strings</u>. (In fact the picture purported to be that of the Burmese arched harp on the site shows an instrument with <u>16 strings</u> and that of the purported Thai arched harp an instrument with <u>14 strings </u>)</ref>

== Etymology and terminology ==
''Saung'' ([[wikt:စောင်း|စောင်း]]) is the [[Burmese language|Burmese]] word for "harp," and is etymologically derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] word [[Chang (instrument)|chang]], which is the Persian arched harp.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Shorto|first=H.L.|url=http://sealang.net/mon/|title=Dictionary of Modern Spoken Mon|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1962|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> The Burmese arched harp is more precisely called ''saung gauk'' ({{lang|my|[[wikt:စောင်းကောက်|စောင်းကောက်]]}}, {{IPA|my|sáʊɰ̃ɡaʊʔ|IPA}}; {{Lit|arched harp}}), while another indigenous [[lyre]] is called ''[[:my:ဗျပ်စောင်း|byat saung]]'' ({{lang|my|ဗျပ်စောင်း}}) or ''saungbya'' ({{lang|my|စောင်းပြား}}; {{Lit|flat harp}}).<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=http://sealang.net/burmese/|title=Myanmar-English Dictionary|publisher=Myanmar Language Commission|year=1993|isbn=1-881265-47-1|location=|pages=}}</ref>

== Description ==

The Burmese harp is classified as an arched horizontal harp since the resonator body is more horizontal as opposed to the Western [[harp]], which has a vertical [[resonator]]. The main parts of the harp are the body, the long curved neck, carved out of the root of a tree, and a string bar running down the center of the top of the body. The top of the resonator body is covered with a tightly stretched deer hide, heavily lacquered in red with four small circular sound holes.<ref name="si">{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Robert M.|title=The Science of String Instruments|url=https://archive.org/details/sciencestringins00ross|url-access=limited|editor=Thomas D. Rossing|publisher=Springer|date=2010|pages=[https://archive.org/details/sciencestringins00ross/page/n176 167]–170|isbn=9781441971104}}</ref> The standard dimensions of the ''saung'' are {{convert|80|by|16|by|16|cm|in|abbr=}}.<ref name="si"/> The arch rises about {{convert|60|cm||||||abbr=}} from the body. Smaller harps have been made for smaller players.

The neck terminates in a highly decorated representation of the [[Sacred Fig|bo tree]] leaf. The whole of the harp body is decorated with pieces of [[mica]] ("Mandalay pearls"), glass, gilt, and red and black [[lacquer]]. The stand is similarly decorated. The ends of the strings on the harp are decorated with red cotton tassels. The ''saung''{{'s}} strings are made of silk or nylon.<ref name="si" />

The thirteen to sixteen strings of the harp angle upwards from the string bar to the string bindings on the lower part of the curved arch of the neck. Traditionally, tuning was accomplished by twisting and adjusting the string bindings. Recently constructed harps have [[tuning peg|machine heads]] or tuning pegs to make tuning easier. The traditional silk strings have also been supplanted by nylon strings, but silk-stringed harps can still be seen.

The harp is played by sitting on the floor with the body in the lap, and the arch on the left.<ref name="si"/> The strings are plucked with the right hand fingers from the outside. The left hand is used to dampen the strings to promote clarity and produce staccato notes. Stopped tones are produced by using the left thumbnail to press against the string from the inside to increase its tension.

== History ==

The Burmese harp is a very ancient instrument.<ref name="Goyala1992">{{cite book|author=Śrīrāma Goyala|title=Reappraising Gupta History: For S.R. Goyal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkVuAAAAMAAJ|date=1 August 1992|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|isbn=978-81-85179-78-0|page=237}} - ''...yazh resembles this old vina... however it is the Burmese harp which seems to have been handed down in almost unchanged form since ancient times''</ref> Musical researchers theorize that the arched harp came to Burma from Mesopotamia by way of India.<ref name=GroveSaung/> Mesopotamia has some of the oldest images of arched harps, including pictographs from circa 3000 B.C.<ref name=Dumbrill>{{cite book | title= The Archaeomusicology of the Ancient Near East |author= Richard J. Dumbrill |pages= 185, 194|quote=Rare example of an Uruk pictograph for which there is yet no equating phonetic value. This is probably one of the earliest pictorial representation of a harp}}</ref>

The ''saung'' may have been introduced as early as 500 AD from southeastern India, based on archaeological evidence, namely in the form of Burmese temple reliefs that depict [[Ancient veena#Descendants|a long-necked harp]] very similar to depictions found in Bengal.<ref name=migration>{{cite journal |last1=Becker |first1=Judith |year=1967 |title=The Migration of the Arched Harp from India to Burma |journal=The Galpin Society Journal |volume=20 |pages=17–23 | jstor=841500 |doi=10.2307/841500}}</ref>

The earliest archaeological evidence of the harp is at the [[Bawbawgyi Pagoda]] of the [[Sri Ksetra]] kingdom of the [[Pyu people]], near present-day [[Prome|Pyay]] (Prome). At that site, there is a mid-600s sculptured relief depicting the arched harp with about five strings, appearing in a scene where musicians and a dancer are depicted.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=Williamson |first=Muriel C. |title=Saùng-gauk |date=2001 |url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000045701 |work=Oxford Music Online |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.45701 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 |access-date=2022-08-18|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Contemporaneous Chinese chronicles from the same period cite Pyu musicians playing the arched harp. A Pyu embassy to China in 801-802 documents an orchestra containing an arched harp with 2 pegs.<ref name=":1" />

The harp has survived continuously since that time, and has been mentioned in many chronicles and texts. The current Burmese word for the harp, "''saung''", has been recorded in [[Bagan]] temples, as well as in pictorial representations. [[Burmese chronicles]] describe the presence of harps in ceremonial ensembles at medieval Pagan, and female harpists who performed for royals. They are also shown on surviving temple reliefs and mural paintings, including at Nagayon and Lawkahteikpan temples.<ref name=":1" />

The earliest song-poem texts in Burmese date to the early 14th century, although the music has not survived. It is conjectured that this song-poem was harp music since the text refers to the siege of Myinzaing, and "Myinzaing" is one of the classical tunings and musical forms in use today.

By the [[Kingdom of Ava|Ava dynasty]], the harp had taken the form of an incurved arch with 11 strings.<ref name=":1" /> The harp benefited from the cultural renaissance of the [[Konbaung dynasty|Konbaung era]] (1752–1885). When the Burmese king [[Hsinbyushin]] sacked [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayuthaya]], he brought back with him many Siamese courtiers. The captured Siamese actors and musicians fueled new forms and experiments in harp music. The most significant innovator was the talented courtier [[Myawaddy Mingyi U Sa]] (1766–1853), who adapted repertoires of Siamese music into Burmese, adapted the Siamese [[Panji tales]] into Burmese ''[[Panji tales|Enaung-zat]]'', composed harp music for it, and developed a whole new genre of harp music called "Yodaya" (the Burmese word for [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]]), which is codified in the [[Mahāgīta]] corpus of Burmese classical music. U Sa was responsible for increasing the number of harp strings from seven to thirteen, such that the notes spanned two and a half octaves, from C3 to F5, and for establishing specifications, including improving the harp's tensile strength by using the curved root of the sha tree.<ref name="si"/><ref name=":1" /> The last [[Konbaung dynasty|Konbaung court]] harpist, Maung Maung Gyi, added the 14th string.<ref name="si"/> Ba Than, a post-independence harpist, created a 16-string ''saung''.<ref name="si"/> After a period of decline before World War II, in 1947, Hmat Kyi, who descended from royal woodcarvers, created 7 harps for the State Schools of Fine Arts.<ref name=":1" />

In the 18th century the instrument was introduced to [[Qing dynasty]] China, becoming known as ''zonggaoji'' (总稿机, a transliteration of "''saung-gauk''"). The instrument was played at feasts of the Chinese imperial court starting in 1788 as part of tribute.<ref>{{cite book |title= A General History of Chinese Art: Qing Dynasty|editor= Xifan Li |page= 148 |publisher= Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG |date= 3 Oct 2022|isbn= 9783110790931 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EoWIEAAAQBAJ&dq=zonggaoji&pg=PA148 |quote= Burma began paying tribute to the court of the Quianlong Emperor in 1788...integrated into the feast musical repertoire... fine Burmese music drew from seven instruments...''zonggaoji'' harp...}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Minye Aungdin Nat.jpg|[[Minye Aungdin]] [[nat (spirit)|nat]] is traditionally depicted playing the ''saung''.
File:Saung harp musician.jpg|A ''saung'' musician in 1900
File:Cloesup of The women sing and play to the prince.jpg|12th century A.D. sculpture from the [[Ananda Temple]] at Bagan, ''The women sing and play to the prince''. From the left: harp, flute, singer, [[Bamboo clapper|clapper]].
File:Harpist (possibly Paficasikha) walking, accompanying a processional dancer, Amardvati, ca. 200 A. D. British Museum.jpg|Relief of harpist playing the vina, [[Amaravati]] ca. 200 A.D. East coast of India.
File:Bodleian Ms. Burm. a. 5 fol 142.jpg|A 19th century Burmese watercolor depicting a ''saung'' musician
File:Burmese girl and harp.jpg|An 1894 photo depicting a Burmese maiden with the ''saung''
</gallery>

==Music and musicians==
Until the 1800s, the Burmese harp and its music were used exclusively for [[chamber music]] within the royal court, where it held status as the most prized of the court instruments.<ref name="si"/> Since then, it has become popular with the general population, but is still played only in more intimate chamber settings. The instrument was built under patronage from the [[Kingdom of Burma]].<ref name=GroveSaung>{{cite book |title= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments |editor= Sadie Stanley |first= Muriel C. |last=Williamson |article= Saùng-gauk |page= 305}}</ref> After World War II, the State School of Fine Arts received newly made harps by Burmese craftsmen.<ref name=GroveSaung/>

The harp is usually accompanied by a singer, or more accurately, the singer is accompanied by the harp, with the harp adapting to the singer, who controls the time with a bell and clapper to indicate the music tempo.

The principal playing techniques in Mandalay include let-kat (လက်ကပ်), kaw (ကော့), zon-hswe-gyin (စုံဆွဲခြင်း), and tat (တပ်).<ref name=":1" />

The Burmese classical music scale is tuned differently from the Western scale, and has been said to be derived from the descending cycle of fifths. The original tuning method extant from 1885 is called ''hnyin-lon,'' while musicians also use the auk-pyan, pale, and myin-zaing tuning methods.<ref name=":1" /> This is only approximately true, and traditionally, the harp is tuned differently for the four major different modes of Burmese classical music. Recently, due to the overriding influence of Western music, many harpists tune to the Western diatonic scale, since fewer and fewer singers feel fully comfortable with the traditional tunings.

Burmese music has not been written down with notation, only the text of the songs are recorded, and the rendition of the music has been passed down through the generations from teacher to student. The last and most well known harpist of the court was U Maung Maung Gyi (1855–1933), who was given a post at King [[Mindon Min|Min]]don's court at the young age of thirteen, and given the title "Dewa-Einda" ('Heavenly Musician;' {{IAST|devaindā}}), which now identifies him. He trained many musicians who became accomplished musicians in their own right. The lineage of today's harpists can be traced directly back to the Dewa-Einda and other musicians from the court of Mandalay.

With the [[Third Anglo-Burmese War|British annexation and the fall of court of Mandalay]], the Burmese court culture and traditions were still carried on for a while at the court of [[Saopha]]s of [[Hsipaw]], the Shan state closest to Mandalay culturally and geographically. The well-known harpists U Hpu Gyaung and Sao Mya Aye Kyi were from Hsipaw.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:A little lunchtime music (10845286724).jpg|A Burmese musician playing the ''saung''
File:Saung Mandalay.jpg|Two female musicians play the ''saung'' at a performance in Mandalay.
File:Wyne Lay playing a Saung.JPG|Burmese singer [[Wyne Lay]] playing the ''saung'' during a performance
File:The Karen People of Burma800.jpg|A [[Karen people|Karen]]-style ''saung'', called ''t'nah'' or ''na den''
File:Vyap Saung.jpg|Another instrument using ''saung'' in its name, a museum display of the ''byat saung'' or ''byauth caungg'' (ဗျပ်စောင်း), the Burmese lyre
</gallery>

==In film==
In 1956, the Japanese film director [[Kon Ichikawa]] made an Oscar nominated anti-war film called ''[[The Burmese Harp (1956 film)|The Burmese Harp]]'' (Biruma no tategoto), set in Burma during [[World War II]]. The main character was a Japanese soldier who becomes a Buddhist monk due to the horrors of war. He plays the ''saung''. However, the sound of the ''saung'' is removed from the soundtrack and replaced with an overdub of a Western classical [[pedal harp]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Ichikawa also directed a [[The Burmese Harp (1985 film)|remake of the film]] in 1985, which was also a major commercial and critical success.

==See also==
* [[Music of Burma]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite book | author=Muriel C. Williamson | title=The Burmese Harp: Its Classical Music, Tunings, and Modes | publisher=Northern Illinois University Center for Southeast Asian Studies | year=2000}}

== External links==

===Audio===
*The Burmese Saung Sample – Sample song clip of Burmese ''saung''

===General===
*[http://www.umbc.edu/eol/garfias/saung.html The Burmese Saung Gauk] – includes a picture, information, and a sample song
*[http://www.myanmar-image.com/myanmar/musical/harpt.htm A Brief History of Saung] – ''Saung'' History by Myanmar-Image
*[http://www.harphistory.info/index.php?lang=en Harp History] site
*[https://exchange.umma.umich.edu/resources/7404 Burmese Harp] – the post-1960s ''saùng-gauk'' at the [[University of Michigan Museum of Art]]

{{Harps}}
{{Burmese musical instruments}}

[[Category:Arched harps]]
[[Category:Burmese musical instruments]]