The saung (Burmese: စောင်း, MLCTS caung; also known as the saung-gauk (စောင်းကောက်): , Burmese harp, Burma harp, or Myanmar harp), is an arched harp used in traditional Burmese music. The saung is regarded as a national musical instrument of Burma. The saung is unique in that it is a very ancient harp tradition and is said to be the only surviving harp in Asia.
Etymology and terminology
Saung (စောင်း) is the Burmese word for "harp," and is etymologically derived from the Persian word chang, which is the Persian arched harp. The Burmese arched harp is more precisely called saung gauk (, ; ), while another indigenous lyre is called byat saung () or saungbya (; ).
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. The standard dimensions of the saung are . Musical researchers theorize that the arched harp came to Burma from Mesopotamia by way of India.
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 a long-necked harp very similar to depictions found in Bengal.
The earliest archaeological evidence of the harp is at the Bawbawgyi Pagoda of the Sri Ksetra kingdom of the Pyu people, near present-day 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. 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.
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File:Minye Aungdin Nat.jpg|Minye Aungdin 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, 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
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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. After World War II, the State School of Fine Arts received newly made harps by Burmese craftsmen.