An ancient instrument played in the imperial court of Burma, the sawn or Burmese harp, is on display as part of the weekly exhibit at the Government Museum in Egmore.
The harp belongs to the anthropology department of the museum.
This uniqueness of the instrument is that it is boat-shaped and similar to the Sengottu Yaazh of the Ancient Tamils.
The body is made of two types of wood, and some can be further embellished with semi-precious stones.
According to a pamphlet given by the museum, traditionally, the top of the 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 whole of the harp body is decorated with pieces of mica (“Mandalay pearls”), glass, gilt, and red and black lacquer. The stand is similarly decorated. The ends of the strings on the harp is decorated with red cotton tassels.”
Visitors to the museum were taken in by the fact that this is touted to be the only surviving harp instrument in Asia.
“The sawn 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 note says, explaining its connection to India.
The sawn is considered the most perfect instrument and is very difficult to learn.
While it was traditionally used only for chamber music within the royal court till the 19th century, it has since become popular with the general population and is still played only in more intimate chamber settings.
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