A Burmese chamber-music ensemble may consist of as few as one vocalist and one instrumentalist (an arched harp (saùñ) or a bamboo xylophone (pa'talà)), plus the vocalist's handheld cymbals (sì) and a bamboo clapper (wà).
Elegant and quiet, Burmese chamber music is likely to be heard at small gatherings of people—probably musicians themselves—who enjoy its qualities. It is also heard on state-run radio and television. Chamber ensembles afford women more opportunities for making music than outdoor ensembles...