Saung Gauk regarded as a National musical instrument of Burma

Saung Gauk regarded as a National musical instrument of Burma

The saung (also known as the saung-gauk, Burmese harp, or Burma harp) is a traditional musical instrument of Burma (Myanmar). It is regarded as a national musical instrument of Burma. It dates back to the 9th century, though it has changed quite a bit since then, expanding, for example, from three strings to sixteen. 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 with four small circular sound holes. The neck terminates in a highly decorated representation of the bo tree leaf. The ends of the strings on the harp are decorated with red cotton tassels. The thirteen to sixteen strings of the harp angle upwards from the string bar to the string bindings on the lower part of the curved arch of the neck.