A. T. Mahmud: Father of children's songs<\/p>\n
Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many parents sing Cicak di Dinding (Lizard on the Wall) when
\ntheir children first start learning to speak. However, many never
\nrealize who composed this simple, yet beautiful song.<\/p>\n
When the name A.T. Mahmud is mentioned, parents quickly
\nremember the figure who has composed over 500 songs, many of
\nwhich are destined to become classics.<\/p>\n
Mahmud, born Massagus Abdullah Totong Mahmud in South Sumatra,
\nis being talked about again after child sensation Tasya recorded
\nan album containing his works two years ago.<\/p>\n
\"When people from Sony came to my house asking me if they
\ncould record my songs with her, I only knew Tasya as the little
\ngirl from the Pepsodent commercials,\" he said, refuting the
\nbelief that he tailor-made his songs for Tasya.<\/p>\n
\"I handed them my song collection, some 300 of them, and asked
\nthem to choose for themselves.\"<\/p>\n
When Sony asked him how much he wanted for his songs, Mahmud
\nasked them to price the songs themselves.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't write songs to make money, I don't really care about
\nthat kind of subject.\"<\/p>\n
However, Mahmud admitted the company had been very generous to
\nhim. He was also very delighted to hear the result of the
\nrecording.<\/p>\n
\"Tasya has an innocent, very joyful style of singing,\" he
\nsaid. \"And that's hard to find in many child singers today.\"<\/p>\n
The album contributed to Mahmud receiving a Mechanical Rights
\naward from the Indonesian Foundation for Copyrighted Works (YKCI)
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
He was named by the foundation as the artist whose songs were
\nthe most duplicated that year, which earned him Rp 100 million
\n(US$11,110) from copyright.<\/p>\n
Despite his success, many still do not realize Mahmud's
\ndisappointment about recent child songs, which is the only topic
\nmost of the media have interviewed him about.<\/p>\n
Mahmud, who is happily married to 68-year-old Mulyani
\nSumarman, is the kind of a straight-forward person that does not
\nhesitate to give good advice.<\/p>\n
If today's composers of children's songs were willing to spend
\nsome time with him, they would probably get an idea on how to
\ncompose good songs.<\/p>\n
\"Children's songs aren't meant to entertain children,\" he said
\nwith conviction. \"They can entertain themselves, they're happy.
\nIn fact, watching how happy they are can become a source of joy
\nfor us.\"<\/p>\n
It is probably because of years of being a teacher that the
\nfather of three strongly believes children's songs are merely
\ntools to teach kids and to stimulate their emotional development.<\/p>\n
\"It's like any other school subject. Math teaches kids logic,
\nmusic teaches them to be sensitive.\"<\/p>\n
His simple yet beautifully written, poignant Ambilkan Bulan
\n(Get me the Moon) has certainly moved and inspired many people as
\nit flashes out the inner child in every one of us.<\/p>\n
\"I had a happy childhood. My parents disciplined us pretty
\nhard but they were not authoritarian,\" Mahmud said, adding his
\nparents allowed him to pursue his interest in art, even though it
\nwas not exactly a prestigious profession at the time.<\/p>\n
The son of a government official and the fifth of 10 siblings,
\nhe started to learn how to sing and act at an early age.<\/p>\n
He also began to study music when he was 11 after meeting
\nIshak Mahmuddin, a young musician who was only three years older.<\/p>\n
Mahmud and Ishak became best friends throughout the Japanese
\noccupation from 1942 to 1945. During that period, Ishak taught
\nhim how to play string instruments including the guitar, bass and
\nukulele.<\/p>\n
\"I also wanted to learn to play the saxophone or violin, but
\nthere was no way my family could afford it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His interests in music remained a hobby even after he
\ngraduated from the Jakarta Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) in
\nRawamangun, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At the age of 23, he was teaching at teacher training schools
\nwhen he began making some compositions, but they remained just
\nnotes.<\/p>\n
A few years later, he moved to teach at a kindergarten
\nteachers training school. In that period, many of his students
\nasked him to compose simple songs they could teach to young
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
Cicak was among his first songs and was later used by his
\nstudents who began teaching at many different kindergartens
\nthroughout the capital.<\/p>\n
Word about his work began to spread quickly. Before he knew
\nit, children started to sing his songs everywhere.<\/p>\n
He gained fame after state-owned TVRI channel, the only one at
\nthe time, offered him in 1968 a chance to become the coordinator
\nfor Lagu Pilihanku (The Songs of my Choice), a singing
\ncompetition on TV for children.<\/p>\n
The next year, he hosted Ayo Menyanyi (Let's Sing) kids show
\nwhere he, together with other children song writers, including
\nIbu Sud and Pak Dal, taught kids to sing.<\/p>\n
After 20 years, both shows were canceled in 1988.<\/p>\n
He enjoys his life, listening to classical music such as
\nMozart and Beethoven, and watching musicals such as The Sound of
\nMusic.<\/p>\n
He also listens to pop bands Sheila on 7 and Padi.<\/p>\n
He showed his admiration to veteran singer Chrisye, who
\nsucceeded in remaining a superstar for many years.<\/p>\n
\"The man has a strong character,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mahmud said he never had any plan to write songs for adults as
\nthere were already many good songwriters for grown-ups and he
\nloved his songs to be sung by kids.<\/p>\n
\"School kids sometimes stop in front my house, sing my songs
\nvery happily. My God, can you imagine how incredible that makes
\nme feel?\"<\/p>",
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