Burmese female song
October 21, 2007
Here’s a track from Burma, also known as Myanmar. [According to a variety of sources, the name Myanmar was given to the country by the military junta in 1989, and many still prefer Burma (including the Library of Congress Subject Authority headings).]
Burmese records are tough to find. I only have a few, and the majority are in pretty dicey shape. This piece for guitar, voice, and percussion, was probably released in the early 30s. It starts off a little rough then improves - but the music is really evocative. It sounds like an interesting conglomeration of Southeast Asian and South Asian musical styles. I’m not positive, but I believe the singer’s name is Ma Kyi Aung, as I have another 78 with her singing and it sounds almost the same. However, I won’t be satisfied until I can get the script translated (anyone?).
The area that is now Burma was a province of India until 1937, so this record unsurprisingly was pressed in India, probably for distribution in the then-province of Burma. I hope you enjoy it, and thank you, as always, for stopping by.
I don’t believe there’s much of early Burmese music on CD - though there are great tracks both on R. Crumb’s Hot Women CD, and on Volume 3 of the Secret Museum series.
