Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends Certificate presentation ceremony and dinner in honour of 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions
NAY PYI TAW October 18
Certificate presentation ceremony and dinner in honour of 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions were held at Myanmar International Convention Centre 2 here this evening attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC members and their wives, SAC secretary and wife, joint-secretary and wife, Union ministers and their wives, Union level officials, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, senior military officers and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, officials of Leading Organizing Committee on the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions, work committee and subcommittees, ministry-wise support groups, judges, managers, coaches and officials and contestants of regions and states.
In his address the Senior General said since its taking over of State duties, SAC has left no stone unturned in ensuring safety, rule of law, national unity and national economic progress and looking into the requirements of all other sectors. It will continue to shoulder the task.
The State has adopted the objectives – To respect and promote the customs and traditions of all National peoples and preserve and safeguard their cultural heritage and national characteristics; and To ensure a strong and dynamic Union spirit, the genuine spirit of patriotism –in building a peaceful and modern nation. Hence, it reorganized the long-awaited competitions to uplift national prestige and image, to preserve and promote cultural heritage and national characteristics, to vitalize the spirit to love and country and Union and to enable the cultural sector to play a supporting role in restoring perpetual peace.
Collective efforts of all national people is required in ensuring national peace and development, effectively using natural resources, preserving the cultural heritage and national characteristics, which have a long history.
Regardless of age and gender, broader knowledge, skill, experience and goodwill of intellectuals and intelligentsia are the most basic resources.
Throughout the successive periods of history, the objective “Strength of nation lies within” has proved itself the most rightness and practical insight. So, all have the responsibility for development of nation and people.
The country is a collective home to national races with diverse cultures and customs.
Historical records prove the start of mankind, the existence of a diversity of cultures and customs based on geographical conditions, performing arts, crafts and accessories, and evolution of performing arts.
Ethnic literature, culture and performing arts have existed grandly in their own style throughout history. All should make collective efforts to ensure that they stay intact.
The 1996 National Literature Award winning book “The flow of Myanmar music” compiled by the late musician Sandaya U Hla Htut states the existence of a period of classical music in the world and Myanmar.
While Padethayazar, a minister and a literati, was composing string music and classical songs around 1710 during the second Inwa period, Bach (1685-1759), a German musician, was composing a choral “God is My King”.
In 1725, governor of Hsithe Village U Aung Gyi composed the poem portraying nature of Inwa city whereas England’s musician Hindle also composed the water music depicting the bathing of His Majesty King at Thames River.
German musician Mozart composed the opera Magic Flute in 1780 when Letwe Thondra counsellor U Myat San wrote Ratu with the title of at the foot of Meza Hill. In 1800s, German musician Beethoven composed the song “Courageous spirit” on military marching of Napoleon whereas Myawady Mingyi U Sa also composed the song “Thahsan Yagonbwe”.
In 1840s, Polish pianist Chopin created the song on nights when West Palace Queen Ma Mya Lay wrote classic song “Chit Tha Hmya Ko” according to the records.
It means that world classic fine arts and classic music have emerged across the world. Contemporarily, classic fine arts, literature and music emerged in Myanmar as well. These classic fine arts have been existent for many years.
In order to preserve these classic fine arts, consideration were expanded for the Performing Arts Competition in all corners for reholding despite suspension for more than five years.
Especially, not only Myanmar but the globe faced outbreak of COVID-19 which should be noticed for high infectious rate. As such, the competition was held in line with the health protocols of the COVID-19 with preventive measures.
During the outbreak of pandemic, eminent artistes lost their lives. Many remaining artistesare at the age of taking care for health conditions and aging.
But, artistes uphold the concept that if mentality is young, physical nature will be young.
As such, whenever they are in touch of fine arts works and share their knowledge with others, it will be a move for ensuring longevity for them.
As such, the competition was held with the consideration in all aspects.
Myanmar has been dubbing the fine arts works as great classic music in successive eras.
The committee formed with maestros scrutinized the texts and melodies of songs in 1953 not to cause differences and set them as the norms of the State. In so doing, six portions of recording the work process such as text, sound, tune, filling music, repeating and singing.
Most of the portions are concerned with the playing music.
Playing the song comprises singing and playing music. As such, the committee set norms for 169 classic songs as part of preserving the noble cultural heritages. With regard to singing, the origin of making sound differentiates the singing styles of classic songs and modern songs formed with long and short stenzas of sounds.
Likewise, dancing is based on postures of head, waist, leg and hand in melodies. Myanmar’s dancing “single dancing” shows off a norm of politeness, tender and pleasantness in various styles of postures. It proves traditional culture and customs of Myanmar based on paying respects to each other. Currently, maestros may notice that young dancers rely on activeness and other postures.
Moreover, the song composing event was involved in the competition so as to show off norms and standards of composing the songs. Today’s 23rd competition was successfully completed thanks to concerted efforts of all officials and maestros who assessed the competitions in line with the prescribed disciplines and marking system which were set in 1993.
As special event Ramayana Drama, narration, marionette, folk dances, Mon traditional dances and Myanmar dances without poems were also involved in the competition as part of uplifting the prestige and integrity of Myanmar. Hence, the Senior General recognized the success of the competition, and urged all to make utmost efforts for gaining greater success in the competitions in coming years.
As the new generation, with the successes gained from this big competition, we must continue to preserve the national characteristics without losing them. The regions and states that participated in the competition together should continue to strive to strengthen the friendship between ethnic groups. From the culture and customs to the country and the citizens, we must continue to carry forward the strong spirit of patriotism and the spirit of union. As veteran artists and senior evaluators, he would like to earnestly appeal to them to take special care of their personal health, so that they can pass on the fine arts skills they have learned over the years to the younger generations.
After that, the Senior General chairperson Daw Thin Thin Myat on behalf of the Vocal Evaluation Working Group, Chairman U Aung Tin Win on behalf of the Dance Evaluation Working Group, U Min Yu, Secretary on behalf of the Composing Evaluation Working Group, and U Aung Kane, Chairman on behalf of the Instrumental Evaluation Working Group.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Patron of the Steering Committee of the competition, Deputy Prime Minister, also presented certificates of appreciation to the administrators and master of ceremonies from the regions and states.
After that, evaluation expert Myin Mu Maung Naing Moe said thank you words.
After that, the Senior General and those who attended the ceremony had a celebratory dinner together.
Before and during dinner, artists from the Department of Arts, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture sang songs, dance and perform.
The 23rd Myanmar traditional cultural performing arts competition is held with four objectives:
to honour national pride and cultural heritage and to preserve national characteristics, to preserve and promote ethnic traditional cultural art heritage and national cultural characteristics, to further develop the spirit of love for the motherland, to identify and preserve traditional cultural arts and be able to pass them on to the young generation, and to support the cultural sector in bringing about eternal peace. It is reported that 1,838 artists from various regions and states participated in the event.