Mi gyaung
Encyclopedia
The mi gyaung is a crocodile
-shaped fretted, plucked zither
with three strings that is used as a traditional instrument in Burma. It is associated with the Mon people
, who call it kyam.
It is similar to the Thai jakhe
, the Cambodian krapeu
(takhe), and the Mon
kyam
.
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
-shaped fretted, plucked zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
with three strings that is used as a traditional instrument in Burma. It is associated with the Mon people
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
, who call it kyam.
It is similar to the Thai jakhe
Jakhe
The jakhe is a plucked zither used in Thai music. It is made of wood in a stylized crocodile shape and is approximately 20 cm high and 140 cm long. Its highest two strings are made of silk yarn or nylon and lowest is made of brass...
, the Cambodian krapeu
Krapeu
The krapeu is a crocodile-shaped fretted floor zither from Cambodia with three strings.The word krapeu means "alligator" or "crocodile" in the Khmer language. It is probably the most recent of the Khmer classical instruments. The takhe usually has three to five legs supporting it...
(takhe), and the Mon
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
kyam
Kyam
The kyam is a crocodile-shaped fretted floor zither with three strings, used in the traditional music of the Mon people of Burma.The instrument's body is made of wood that is carved out on the underside like a dugout canoe. It has approximately 13 raised wooden frets that are diatonically rather...
.
Listening
- Kyam (mi gyaung) audio samples (track 6)