Myanmar Music Festival is a unique and vibrant festival, which features international artists and faculty in collaboration with Myanmar’s emerging and traditional artists for an intensive training and performances.  It aims to empower and inspire young talents to become world-class performers while encouraging businesses to engage with Myanmar’s artistic and cultural life, in hopes that music keeps touching the hearts of a wider and more diverse audience every year.

2017 marks the fourth year of our festival. For this occasion, we commissioned composers from Taiwan, Myanmar, and the United States to create new compositions, which explore the idiomatic languages of both Western instruments such as violin, cello, piano, and operatic voice and Myanmar traditional instruments such as the flute (palwe/hne), drum circle (saing waing), xylophone (patala), harp (saung) and voice. In partnership with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, these new works were presented and performed by artists from Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and USA in four cities across Myanmar: Myitkyina, Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Yangon.

In this CD, you will hear the live recording of these new pieces of music performed at our final Celebration Concert at the National Theatre of Yangon on June 18, 2017.  Where creativity and innovation exist, people will convene and find a common ground to exist.  This concert is testament to this belief.   Our work is our humble attempt to live up to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s advice to us in June 2015: “What we need the most in this country is unity and peace and you can help them through music: to bring people together, to overcome their differences and focus on what we have in common. Do anything you can to promote peace, unity and understanding.”  

Bon voyage!

Repertoire List

Program Notes

1. Nagani
arranged by Saw James and Kevin Yang,performed by Kevin Yang (Piano) and Kimball Gallagher (Piano)​

Nagani (The Red Dragon) is a political folk song written by Shwe Daing Nyunt in the 1930s, popularized by the influential Burmese singer Khin Maung Yin. Throughout history, music has always been used as a powerful tool for people to express strong political ideas and patriotism, especially against foreign invaders and dictatorship. The same is true for Nagani, a song written in order to propagate the “Nagani Book Club” which was founded by a group of Burmese intellectuals and political activists trying to gain the country’s independence from the British Government. Containing ideas that praise national pride, prosperity and political ambition, the song became instantly popular country-wide and still remains widely known today after many decades. A four-hand piano arrangement of Nagani was made by MMF student Kevin Yang and Saw James (AOC) in 2015.

2. Pleasant Forest
composed by Hlaing Win Maung
performed by Traditional Myanmar Ensemble of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture

People in Myanmar listen less and less to traditional music nowadays. The aim of this composition was to showcase and present to the Myanmar and international audience the rich cultural treasure that Myanmar traditional music is using the full traditional Myanmar Ensemble. The piece represents Myanmar’s diverse and beautiful forests.

3. The Zat Medley
composed by Ne Myo Aung
performed by Sa Nyi Nyi (Oboe), Sein Kalar (Circle Drums), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin),  Yuwen Wang (Cello)

In Burmese theater, there is the Ah Phwint Tee Lone, an opening song in which traditional and western music ensembles typically perform together to show their virtuosities. The collaboration of western instruments and traditional instruments encourages the audience who is already there, to stay for more and encourages people who are still outside of the theater to join the performance.

4. Beautiful Land
composed by Hlaing Win Maung
performed by Sa Nyi Nyi (Flute), Win Nadar Lwin (Myanmar Harp), Sai Htet Aung (Xylophone), Sein Kalar (Circle Drums), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello)

This composition represents the beautiful land that is Myanmar, with its cultural diversity. Inspired by the Myanmar Music Festival Tour 2017, which went to Sittwe, in Rakhine State and to Myitkyina, in Kachin State, this piece incorporates some elements of traditional Rakhine and Kachin tunes.

5. Two Myanmar Songs
composed by Simon Fink
performed by Yiling Chaing (Voice) and Sandar Lin (Voice), Win Nadar Lwin (Harp), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello)

These two songs are based on classical Myanmar poems, hundreds of years old, authors unknown, translated to English by a Latvian Buddhist monk in the 1960’s. Whole universes seem contained in their few words. The Western performers play from a score, while the Myanmar musicians’ parts are largely improvised.

6. Ngae Gwyan Swe
arranged by Ne Myo Aung
performed by Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kaiyin Huang (Piano)

Ngae Gywan Swe is a traditional song which was composed by the well-known composer Bo Kalay Tint Aung. Beautifully illustrating the love between childhood friends, it was originally written to be used in a play.

7. Music from Pong Hu
arranged by Kaiyin Huang
performed by Sa Nyi Nyi (Flute), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kaiyin Huang

This arrangement opens with a tune sang by the old generation from Pong Hu, a small village located in the southwest of the Taiwan Strait. This tune frames the main melody, which is cheerful and energetic, depicting the enthusiasm from the young generation to go back to this beautiful little island.  

8. Lwan Ni May ​
composed by Ye Hlaing Pya, arranged by Kaiyin Huang
performed by Ye Hlaing Pya (Voice), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kaiyin Huang (Piano)

This piece was written and composed by Rakhine singer Ye Hlaing Pya, which means Blue Wave. Kimball and Erina met her on their trip to Sittwe in Rakhine state and was impressed by her emotional and moving performance of this song, that they invited her to perform on the final concert in Yangon. The title means “I Miss You” and it is sung in Rakhine language.

9. Offering
composed by Augusta Gross
performed by Win Nadar Lwin (Harp), Sein Kalar (Xylophone), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kimball Gallagher (Piano)

Unlike my works in which the piano is often the solo instrument, I wrote Offering as a quartet in which the piano is just one participant. As it turned out, the piano part is more like an accompanist, rather than a major player. I wanted the xylophone and harp and cello to sing together because I think they make a wonderful combination. I chose to name the piece “Offering” to show respect for the traditional instruments and sounds of Myanmar music.

10. Voyage of Time
composed by Winnie Yang
performed by Sa Nyi Nyi (Flute), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kaiyin Huang (Piano)

“Voyage of Time” is a one movement work composed with different small sections.  My idea was to create a musical journey of time for the audience.  I hope the audience can relate to the different atmospheres I created, and while listening to this work, starting your own journey.  There are several parts in this work. They are connected without a break because “time never stops”.   The piano begins like a fantasy, calmly unfolding in time and space.  The main melody is introduced first in the cello then the flute. Throughout the whole piece, you will find yourself going through different spaces and stages – fantasy-like, improvisatory, dark, energetic, highly expressive and emotional, free imagination, etc. The last part is a fun dance – rhythm is crisp, tempo is fast-moving, melodies are memorable.”

11. Metamorphosis Towards an American Tune
composed by Hwaen Ch’uqi
performed by Sa Nyi Nyi Tun (Flute), Sein Kalar (Circle Drums), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kimball Gallagher (Piano)

The gradual transformation of a pre-existing melody is a common – if not at times hackneyed – compositional ploy. With more than a passing nod to such masters as Hindemith and Richard Strauss, I thought to try the reverse – that is, to navigate through transformational waters toward a most beloved shore!

12. Jinghpaw
​composed by Ah Moon, arranged by Kaiyin Huang
performed by Ah Moon (Singer), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kaiyin Huang (Piano)

This song ” Jinghpaw ” is a Kachin traditional melody in Burmese language. As a girl from Myitkyina, this song came out from the bottom of my heart as I want to invite everyone to come and visit Kachin State! The song became more authentic when played by international classical musicians!

13. Hla Thitsar Theya
composed by Sandaya Hla Htut arranged by Kevin Yang 
performed by Yiling Chaing and Sandar Lin (Singers), Sa Nyi Nyi Tun (Flute), Win Nadar Lwin (Harp), Sai Htet Aung (Xylophone), U Sein Kalar (Circle Drums), Chalat Limpisiri (Violin), Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kevin Yang (Piano)

A Hla Thitsar Tayar (Beauty and Loyalty) is one of the most famous works of Sandaya Hla Htut, an award-winning Myanmar pianist and composer whose compositions have become the standards in both the traditional music world and the modern film scoring industry in Myanmar. Being an all-time favorite song of the Myanmar people, the beautiful melodic lines and lyricism in A Hla Thitsar Tayar walk the listener through a journey in search of truth and inner beauty in life. Kevin Yang made a cello and piano arrangement of this song for the 2017 Myanmar Music Festival.

Bonus Tracks

14. Man Taung Yeik Koh
arranged by Kevin Yang,
performed by Kevin Yang (Piano) and Kimball Gallagher (Piano)​

Man Taung Yeik Kho (In the Shade of Mandalay Hill) was originally written by Myoma Nyein (1909-1955). Myoma Nyein, who has contributed much to the Myanmar musical scene, was the most renowned Myanmar musician and composer of the 20th Century. He composed over 150 Myanmar songs during his professional life, many of which have become the classics, touching the hearts of generations of Myanmar people. Man Taung Yeik Kho, which he composed for the Myanmar New Year of 1947, has also become an iconic song of the Thingyan Festival. MMF student Kevin Yang made a four-hand piano duet arrangement in 2016.

15. Hla Thitsar Theya
composed by Sandaya Hla Htut arranged by Kevin Yang
performed by Yuwen Wang (Cello), Kevin Yang (Piano)

Artists

KAI-YIN HUANG (Executive Director, Piano, Taiwan)
Kai-Yin graduated from The Juilliard School and Yale School of Music, she received the Doctor of Music Arts at SUNY Stony Brook University. In the past few years, Kai-Yin has supported various social projects across Southeast Asian and North African countries. Her effort led to the establishment of the Myanmar Music Festival, recognized by the United Nations and supported by Aung San Suu Kyi.

KIMBALL GALLAGHER (Piano, American)
Kimball Gallagher is a graduate of Rice University and The Juilliard School. He has launched 88 International an organization based in New York which initiates and supports international music projects, including the Myanmar Music Festival.

CHALAT LIMPISIRI
Chalat holds a Master’s Degree in violin performance from Conservatory of Music, Rangsit University, and he continues studying for Violin diploma at Prayner Konservatorium, Vienna, Austria with Barbara Gorzynska. He has been a member of Dr. Sax Chamber Orchestra, Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra, Asian Youth Orchestra in  2012-2013, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and Siam Philharmonic Orchestra.

YU-WEN WANG (Cello, Taiwan)
Yu-Wen Wang received her Bachelor Degree from Curtis Institute of Music in 2009. She has appeared as a soloist with Temple University Youth Chamber Orchestra and Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra. Yu-Wen  has worked with musicians such as Pam Frank, Ida Kavafian, Toby Appel, Hsin-Yun Huang, Roberto Díaz, Andrés Díaz, and Ronald Thomas in numerous chamber music festivals.

YILING CHAING
YiLing holds her bachelor degree from Birmingham Conservatoire (UK) as vocal and operatic performance singer and completed a Master’s Degree at the Kodály Institute of Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Hungary) as Kodály expert. During her studies in England, YiLing won gold medals for the opera and lieder category, such as the Ella Cheshire Soprano Award and the Joseph Weingarten Prize.

SEIN KALAR aka MR. AUNG ONE TWO (Xylophone/Drum Circle, Myanmar)
Sein Kalar, aka. Mr. Aung One Two is a Staff Officer of the Myanmar Traditional Orchestra in the Department of Fine Arts in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.  He is the winner of seven gold medals and four silver medals in the Myanmar Traditional National Ethnic Performing Arts Competition.

SA NYI NYI TUN (Myanmar Flute/Oboe, Myanmar)
Sa Nyi Nyi Tun studied Myanmar traditional oboe at the State High school of Arts and Drama in Yangon.  He has won seven gold medals in the Myanmar Traditional National Ethnic Performing Arts Competition. Also, he has been promoted to a Staff Musician in the Production Division, Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

SANDAR LIN (Myanmar Voice, Myanmar)
Sandar Lin received her Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from the National University of Arts and Culture. She has received a gold medal from the Myanmar Traditional National Ethnic Performing Arts Competition. She was working at the Production Division within the Fine Arts Division of the Religious Affairs and Culture as a Grade Four artist, and performed at government level events.

WIN NADAR LWIN (Myanmar Harp, Myanmar)
Win Nadar Lwin works as a Myanmar Harpist (Saung) in the Production Division of the Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. Her gifts as a musician have led her to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Arts and Culture in Yangon, and also to receive gold medals in Myanmar Traditional National Ethnic Performing Arts Competition.  She was born in 1995.

SAI HTET AUNG (Xylophone, Myanmar)
Mr. Sai Htet Aung studied Saing Waing (Drum Circle) and Myanmar Traditional Music at the State School of Fine Arts in Yangon. He has won three gold medal awards in the Myanmar Traditional National Ethnic Performing Arts Competition.

AUNG MOE KYAW (Composer, Pianist, Myanmar)
Aung Moe Kyaw enrolled at Missouri Western State University for a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, with a minor in French. Among his mentors are Dr. Nathanael May, Kimball Gallagher, Kai-Yin Huang, Gloria Campaner and Maiko Kurihara. Additionally, he won the first prize in the 2016 MWSU Concerto/ Aria Competition.

Composers

U HLAING WIN MAUNG (Composer, Myanmar)
Composer and Harpist U Hlaing Win Maung serves as the Director General of the Fine Arts Department at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, in Myanmar. He recorded seven albums of Traditional Harp Music and composed a Myanmar Folk Song for the ASEAN-Korea Traditional Orchestra. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and attended the M. Sc Qualifying Course at the University of Magway.

HWAEN CH’UQI  (Composer, Peru/USA)
Hwaen Ch’uqi holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music. He was described with the following: “This is true talent, a genuine diamond that you so rarely see” by the St. Petersburg Times. He has completed a first piano sonata, several chamber sonatas, a song cycle, suites for solo piano, a cycle of twenty-five preludes for piano, four hands, and a children’s musical.

NE MYO AUNG (Composer, Myanmar)
Ne Myo Aung’s interest in Sandaya (playing Western piano in traditional Myanmar music) led him to study piano and other music at the Gitameit Music Center. While teaching piano at the Gitameit Music Centre he received the Fulbright award for study at the University of Washington – the first recipient of the award from Myanmar for study in the arts. He was awarded an MA degree in Ethnomusicology.

LAN-IN WINNIE YANG (Composer, Taiwan)
Lan-In Winnie Yang holds two PhD degrees in Piano and Composition from Stony Brook University, two Master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano and Composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Yang’s original music “Dancing Dream”, a music video for erhu and piano, won the “Best Music Video Award” in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Chinese Film Festival.

AUGUSTA GROSS (Composer, USA)
The music by Augusta Gross focuses on internal experiences in a spare, yet incisive way. Her pieces, while contemplative and impressionistic, also display rhythmic inventiveness that incorporate jazz idioms and reflect classical harmonic influences of such composers like Satie and Debussy. For many years she combined her music career with the practice of psychology.

SIMON FINK (Composer, USA)
Simon Fink is a composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music has been called “haunting and literate” (David Anderson, The Hank Williams Reader). He brings a classically-trained ear (Ph.D. University of Chicago) to a diverse range of genres, from opera to the American folk song. His work has received honors from MoMA (NY), the Aspen Music Festival, the Academy of Arts and Letters, the MacDowell Colony, the Mellon Foundation, and the ASCAP Foundation.

From the United Nations

“I am very honored to say a few words on behalf of the United Nations, which is pleased to be part of this 4th Myanmar Music Festival. Perhaps there are some in the audience who may be wondering what does the United Nations have to do with a music festival. As a form of communication and expression music, transcends all languages, national boundaries and cultures, which embodies the spirit of the United Nations.

And as a representative of UNESCO, the specialized United Nations agency that promotes peace and development through education, sciences, communication and culture, I am especially delighted to be here tonight. Fundamental principle that guides UNESCO’s activities is that creativity contributes to building open, inclusive, pluralistic and prosperous societies. In this regard, I would like to congratulate Ms. Kaiyin Huang, Mr. Kimball Gallagher and Ms. Erina Iwasaki, for organizing this 2017 Myanmar Music Festival and as well as the musicians, composers and vocalists for being part of a this wonderfully unique initiative. This Festival, which brings together composers and musicians from different backgrounds, musical genres, continents and countries from around the world is not only simply a concert but a celebration of the creativity, diversity and pluralism that makes up humanity.

Ladies and gentlemen, At the United Nations, we understand that speaking of human development is not possible without understanding and respecting the arts, cultures and traditions of the people and communities we work with. Arts in general, and music in particular, can also help to foster social cohesion in a world that is getting increasingly complex by bringing people together from all races, gender, languages and religions, and offer a space where people can interact and inspire. I would like to thank once again the organizers and the musicians for this concert, which is symbolized not only the diverse world we live in but also the peaceful coexistence of all cultures and peoples.”

Min Jeong Kim, Head of UNESCO in Myanmar
Opening Speech at the Final Celebration Concert in Yangon, June 18, 2017