Saya Tin
Encyclopedia
Nandawshay Saya Tin was a Burmese composer
.
in 1892 to Daw Thein and her husband U Yan Aung, a former official in the service of the last Burmese king Thibaw
. He had one elder sister and one younger sister.
After finishing high school in 1909 at the age of 17, Tin worked as a school teacher in a private school for the next three years. In his leisure time Tin took up playing his concertina
, exploring its sounds, and studying traditional Burmese music
.
(a type of traditional Burmese theater) songs. His dance numbers for anyeint minthami (lead female performers) in particular were highly popular. Many popular anyeint minthami of the day like Liberty Ma Mya Yin and Mandala Myint owed much of their success to his songs. Many of his songs of that era like Yangon Thu (Yangon Girl) are still covered by modern Burmese singers today.
In 1918, Tin founded his own private school: "Young Men's Buddhist School" in Mandalay, and came to be known as YMB Saya Tin. (Saya in Burmese means "teacher"). His school's musical troupe performed free of charge at charity events and weddings.
In 1930, Tin closed down his school and moved to Yangon where his songs had been recorded, and used in films. Tin met up with an old classmate Thakin Ba Thaung, and joined his political movement, Dobama Asiayone (We Burmese Association). In a nod to Burmese nationalism (and indeed his native Mandalay) in colonial Burma, he took on the prefix "Nandawshay" (lit. Before the Palace), hence Nandawshay Saya Tin.
Tin composed the song in 1930 with Ba Thaung supplying the patriotic lyrics. Tin himself gave the first ceremonial rendition of the song on the flat ground of Shwedagon Pagoda at 5:00 pm on 20 July 1930. In 1947, the song was adopted as the Burmese national anthem for which he was awarded one thousand kyats. The Burmese government awarded him the title Wunna Kyaw Htin (the beautiful-famous) on the Independence Day, 4 January 1950.
on 8 August 1950, and was buried in Yangon. Tin had composed over 4000 songs.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Early life
Tin was born in MandalayMandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
in 1892 to Daw Thein and her husband U Yan Aung, a former official in the service of the last Burmese king Thibaw
Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....
. He had one elder sister and one younger sister.
After finishing high school in 1909 at the age of 17, Tin worked as a school teacher in a private school for the next three years. In his leisure time Tin took up playing his concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
, exploring its sounds, and studying traditional Burmese music
Music of Myanmar
The music of Burma has similarities with and is related to many other musical traditions in the region, including Chinese music and Thai music.- Traditional music :...
.
Musical career
Tin was one of the earliest modernizers of traditional Burmese music. His musical style can be best described as traditional Burmese music influenced by the early 20th century Western music. Indeed, he began to make a name for himself with modernized anyeintAnyeint
Anyeint is a traditional Burmese entertainment form that combines dance with instrumental music, song, and comedy routines, in theatrical performances. It is a form of pwe, the Burmese word for traditional entertainment...
(a type of traditional Burmese theater) songs. His dance numbers for anyeint minthami (lead female performers) in particular were highly popular. Many popular anyeint minthami of the day like Liberty Ma Mya Yin and Mandala Myint owed much of their success to his songs. Many of his songs of that era like Yangon Thu (Yangon Girl) are still covered by modern Burmese singers today.
In 1918, Tin founded his own private school: "Young Men's Buddhist School" in Mandalay, and came to be known as YMB Saya Tin. (Saya in Burmese means "teacher"). His school's musical troupe performed free of charge at charity events and weddings.
In 1930, Tin closed down his school and moved to Yangon where his songs had been recorded, and used in films. Tin met up with an old classmate Thakin Ba Thaung, and joined his political movement, Dobama Asiayone (We Burmese Association). In a nod to Burmese nationalism (and indeed his native Mandalay) in colonial Burma, he took on the prefix "Nandawshay" (lit. Before the Palace), hence Nandawshay Saya Tin.
"Kaba Ma Kyei"
Kaba Ma Kyei (Till the End of the World) is the national anthem of Burma.Tin composed the song in 1930 with Ba Thaung supplying the patriotic lyrics. Tin himself gave the first ceremonial rendition of the song on the flat ground of Shwedagon Pagoda at 5:00 pm on 20 July 1930. In 1947, the song was adopted as the Burmese national anthem for which he was awarded one thousand kyats. The Burmese government awarded him the title Wunna Kyaw Htin (the beautiful-famous) on the Independence Day, 4 January 1950.
Death
Saya Tin died of tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
on 8 August 1950, and was buried in Yangon. Tin had composed over 4000 songs.