13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful King Of Thunder, April 12, 2000
This review is from: White Elephants & Golden Ducks (Audio CD)
Burmese music is unique in that more than most any other culture, Burma has used non-traditional instruments that found their way there and thoroughly incorporated them into Burmese traditional music. This cd has piano, mandolin, violin, Hawaiian-style acoustic slide guitar along with traditional Burmese instruments such as tuned drums, Burmese harp, Kyi Waing gongs, etc...
Very few recorded examples of this music make their way to the United States, and there are (were) several other cds in this series that have now gone out-of-print, regrettably for me, as I did not get the chance to purchase the entire series before this happened.
You've never heard music like this before. The master Burmese musicians have taken Western instruments and done things with them that no Westerner ever imagined and the results are stunningly beautiful and creative. Whether you are just a music lover wanting to experience something new, or you are a musician in need of creative inspiration, this cd will fit both purposes to great effect.
I'd also just like to add that another cd in this series, SANDAYA: THE SPELLBINDING PIANO OF BURMA is every bit as good as this one. Since either of them could go out-of-print at any time I recommend buying both as soon as possible.
(edited for space in january 2007)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Majestic Music of Burma, April 8, 2003
This review is from: White Elephants & Golden Ducks (Audio CD)
"Will you accept my love or not?" asked the first coquettish composition in this album. The question will undoubtedly be answered in the affirmative by anyone with even the slightest interest in the classical music of Southeast Asia in general and Burma in particular; this selection of songs exemplifies the romantic poetry of Burmese classical music and the performance of the musicians is of the best quality. Since the current generation of Burmese has largely embraced a hybrid form of Western-Burmese modern music, classical Burmese musicians--even the renowned masters--are finding it difficult to find an audience. This album will play a crucial role in the preservation of Burma's unique musical heritage.
One the other hand, if you have never been exposed to Burmese classical music, this just might be the beginning of a beautiful courtship, beginning perhaps with a few awkward moments (as you adjust your ears to the seemingly irregular rhythm of Burma) but leading to a solid romance. Listen to the playful violin in Track 8. Heed the tragic lover's appeal in Track 14. Enjoy the bright piano's paces and scales in Track 9. And then answer if you'll accept this token of love from the mythical land of white elephants and golden ducks.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good choice for jazz fans, August 15, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: White Elephants & Golden Ducks (Audio CD)
If you want to find the equivalent of Thelonius Monk's great piano work then this disc will be an eye opener. The Burmese musician's ability to fit foreign and indigenous instruments into these beautiful layered compositions is a real treat. This music is far more accesible to Western listeners than other musics of Southeast Asia and shouldn't be missed.
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