Beauty of Tradition

-A Journey to Myanmar Traditional Music-

Introduction

　It all started from a call from a good old friend.  “Would you mind hiring a young man from Myanmar?”

I always liked folk music.  I once wanted to take a path similar to that of Koizumi Fumio.
Recording machines and equipments in seven trunks from Japan, we headed to a small shed in outskirt of Yangon to record the music.  There, 11 groups of musicians performing traditional music in Yangon gathered.  Recordings took place day after day for 40 days.  We recorded 100 songs.

　It was in the midst of Water Pouring Festival: Myanmar New Year Days.  Surrounding us, there were full of happy people and beautiful nature.  Tenderly, we tried to capture every moments of their happiness and their beauty.
　Myanmar is surrounded by 5 countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China and India.  It is a multiethnic country with 8 main tribes and there are as many as 135 tribes.  Our recording focused on traditional music of Burmese tribe from around 18 century. 

　Hsaing Waing is an original musical instrument from this area with 21 small drums hanged to something like a round wooden bath tab.  Positioning it to its center, Hsaing Waing orchestra is formed.  This instrument plays the role of a conductor with original musical scale.  The center of the music is singing voice but there is no concept of accompanying.  Instruments overlap the singing with their own phrases and there exist no cord.  You may feel some kind of uneasiness when you listen with a mind of western cord.  And yet, it does have some unique harmony.

　The phrases they cover are not only for one song but can be heard in other songs.  You may find the same fixed phrases in many different songs.  There is no musical score.  You have to remember tunes just listening with one’s ear and they are passed on to from one musician to another with somewhat slight changes.

　Aung San Suu Kyi is relieved and at present, Myanmar is moving from under military control to democracy.  Various foreign companies are pouring in and we find changes in everywhere.  Mind of musicians may change and for sure, the form of existence of traditional music may change soon.  Traditional music may destine to be handed down for the future together with these changes of society.  That is why, at this ever changing moment, we wanted to record Myanmar traditional music.  Under a sensory illusion of as if we are enjoying our journey long time ago.


“Beauty of Tradition” is a project a Myanmar musician Diramore gave birth and has kept in his mind for years.
 The first step of the project is to record “Traditional music focused on Burmese classic songs”.  Met Diramore, sided with his concept, we decided to join the first step and use the title “Beauty of Tradition” for our music CD and documentary film.  For the second step, Diramore is planning to record “Popular songs that were caught in 20th century”.  Further on for the third step, he sets out to record, maintain and develop Myanmar traditional culture in a wider scale.