Mon Music
The Mon music is the traditional music of the people of Burma. The Mon people
were very famous and well-mannered and great lovers of music. But the sad part
is that the traditional music of the Mon people has almost disappeared, as the
numbers of Mon people have also become less in number.Mon people were the first
ones to follow Buddhism and even today there are followers of Buddhism in the
parts of Burma, Thailand and Cambodia.
Many of the Books are also written in Mon language. As the number of people
increased in number, the Mon people started decreasing in number and with them
came an end of their culture and music.e.
The new generation of Mon people started getting influenced with the western pop music that was one of the main reasons that their traditional music lost its importance. There were two main musical instruments of the Mon people that were Kyam, a musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden body with numerous strings stretched across it and the other one was Batt Kine, a metal disc with a turned rim.There is also another instrument known as Mon violin, a three stringed instrument played with a bow.
The few Mon people are trying their best to revive their old culture and music that is lost with the passing time.Prince Nandar, the son of King Okkalapa of Dagon formed the music of Kyam that was derived from the noise that was made by the crocodile. Another musical instrument known as Bat Kine that is a metal disc with a turned rim.
It is shaped like a quarter full moon that is upturned steeply on both ends. The Pone Pon is a drum that consists of four small drums that is played by the drummer and its tunes depend on the player’s choice. Graw is a very old Mon traditional instrument. It looks like western instrument and has three strings attached to it.
Though the Mon people copied this music from the Britishers but played it in an ancient style that is sitting cross-legged with the instrument resting on one leg rather than tucked under the chin.
The famous musicians were NAI HTAWPAING who was the main leader of his group. In 1965, he learned Mon music from hi father Nai Khin Maung Gyi. He used to perform himself on Mon National Days, Mon State Day, and other important receptions.
He was also specialized in teaching the modern music to the new generation but was short of time as he was busy performing himself on the important days.Mi Mya Than was a female singer and was a student of teachers like Nai Shwe Pyi and Nai San Shein. She was also a lover of Mon traditional music. She also participated in many annual festivals of the Mon State.
MIN HAN WIN AUNG- he was a director general of the Metrological Department. He had great love for the Mon traditional music. Due to the shortage of time he found difficulty in teaching music but is still teaching some of the Mon.NAI MYA NYEIN- he composed music to earn his living and also participated in every Mon functions held by the Government of the Mon State.NAI KYAW WIN- he was an accomplished sculptor and made instruments to earn his living.
He had been performing in many traditional and religious occasions.The traditional music of the Mon state is disappearing and endangered, it is highly established and is barely known to the Asian Traditional music judges.e.
