CD Review: Myanmar Meets The West

Khing Zin Shwe & Shwe Shwe Khaing

Voice Over The Bridge

EarthSync

Khing Zin Shwe and Shwe Shwe Khaing are both Myanmarese singers that have studied the classical and traditional songs of Myanmar's distant past. Using the Maha Gita, which is a classical work of songs praising kings as early as the thirteenth-century, the singers convey delicate moods and emotions with their angelic vocalizations. The addition of contemporary instrumentation 'updates' traditional music by immersing the listener in electronic washes of color with classical strings, piano, drums, flute, guitar, bass, and contrabass. The melding of East-meets-West is not an unfamiliar concept, though it is rare to find any music coming out of Myanmar today. Rarity aside, Voice Over The Bridge echoes the sounds of the East and the West with a sense of epic serenity. Listeners may also be interested in the film and music of the Laya Project (EarthSync, 2010), which features the music of Southeast Asia. Experience Myanmar for yourself! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Music of Burma

Nai Htaw Paing Ensemble
Mon Music of Burma
Fire Museum Records

The traditional music of Burma is diverse, and in some cases, has been in danger of disappearing from today's society. In response, ensemble leader and assistant lecturer at Yangon Cultural University, Nai Htaw Paing, works to revive the music of the Mon people throughout Burma and the world. The Mon people actually comprise about 2% of the total population of Burma. The musical culture of the Mon people is rich in history and instrumentation. The Mon people are not immune to the musical influences of neighboring Thailand and Cambodia. As a result, the instrumentation is similar in appearance and sound, which includes a zither, gongs, string fiddle, xylophone, reed-oboe, and bamboo flutes. Vocals are included, though sparingly. This is mostly an instrumental work that should not be passed up. The 13 tracks are representative of the Mon culture and are not modernized to Western tunings or modern beats. Fans of traditional recordings of Southeast Asian ensemble music should acquire this album for their collection. This recording is limited to 500 copies, so it won't last long. Spellbinding! ~ Matthew Forss