Stirring 1994 ode to Bagan still inspires
Published on Wednesday, 11 September 2013 10:35
The scene of Bagan (Photo - Eleven Media Group)
When a composer writes a song from the depths of his heart, the result can be a classic of universal appeal. That's what happened to Mya Than San when he wrote "Mahar" ("The Grandeur"): the song, composed in 1994, is still adored by the public and has been selected for the opening ceremony programme of the 27th SEA Games.
"Mahar" is a stirring ode to the greatness of Bagan and the First Myanmar Empire, founded by King Anawrahta during the 11th century. Also known as the Bagan Empire, the FME was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia.
The composer says he felt something in the breeze one day in 1994, as he made his way through Bagan to film a documentary. With the raindrops falling and the aroma of burnt earth rising in the air, he stepped out of his car and began writing lyrics. At that moment, he recalls, he wasn't planning on composing a song.
"I just wanted to write something, so I wrote it," said Mya Than San. "Words came to me spontaneously, without my even thinking about it. First, it looked like it might be a poem. I just felt the nature all around me, collected my thoughts, and combined it with my art. Then it became the lyric."
Picture of the composer Mya Than San (Photo - Nyeinchan Win/ EMG)
The ancient scenery of Bagan city, with its cracked bricks and towering pillars, provided the inspiration for "The Grandeur." The song is a patriotic celebration of intact traditional artistry and workmanship, and of a city that captures the dignity and noble history of the First Myanmar Empire. Located in the central region, Bagan is one of the most famous cultural and religious heritage sites in the world—a place Myanmar nationals regard as the heart and soul of their country. This sentiment is nicely captured in "The Grandeur," which also expresses the gratitude of a king for his country.
King Anawrahta, in establishing the Bagan Empire, introduced many social, cultural, and religious reforms during a reign that lasted 34 years. Anawrahta has been credited with bringing Theravada Buddhism to this country, thanks to the guidance of the venerable monk Shin Ahrahan, who came from the Thaton kingdom in what is now lower Myanmar. Before Anawrahta's time, Bagan people predominantly embraced the philosophy of Ari – a combination of spiritual worship (called nat culture), Buddhism and Hinduism. The king's reforms would have a lasting impact on Myanmar culture, as Mya Than's lyrics reveal:
The great Buddha's sasana ray glowing lustrously ….. The most venerable Shin Ahrahan illuminated the light of sasana……
But the song is more than just a tribute to King Anawrahta. It also celebrates the Bagan throne from the 11th through 13th centuries, covering five dynasties:
….. This is heritage for us all, bestowed over many centuries, one after the other.
As the song progresses, the listener can imagine the lance marks and sword cuts of Myanmar's historic heroes, legends of a bygone era the song refers to as "Myanmar's national might."
Of course, the success of "The Grandeur"' is about more than the composer and his lyrics. In creating a national classic, the original vocalist played a key role.
Zaw Win Htut is a rocker. Applying his signature dramatic style and soaring vocals to the studio recording, Zaw Win gave the song an anthemic quality that has inspired generations of listeners with its nationalist spirit.
Zaw Win Htut entertaining at the pre-SEA Games concert at Yangon National Theatre with the song "The Grandeur" (Photo - Nyeinchan Win/ EMG)
The song's success led both composer and vocalist to team up again for "The Grandeur" versions 2, 3, 4 and 5. These "sequels" portrayed other powerful eras of Myanmar history, including the Second and Third Myanmar Empires.
"At that time, I had been a famous rock singer for ten years. So I sang this song to express my gratitude not only to the public who listen to my music but also to my country," said Zaw Win, in the official video for "The Grandeur".
Recently, the Myanmar Ministry of Culture chose "The Grandeur" as an opening song for the upcoming 27th SEA Games, which will be held in Myanmar. According to Zaw Win, the ministry wants to start the event with the kind of songs that capture the national spirit.
"The Grandeur" certainly fits the bill. As the song goes: This land is our heart and soul. Bagan is for us all! …..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9prhYwt2J4list=PL7288DAD01CADFE80
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Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/09/11/stirring-1994-ode-to-bagan-still-inspires/
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