Composer Wedhasmara demands his rights<\/p>\n
Ni Luh Dian, Contributor, Denpasar<\/p>\n
On that bright afternoon in Senen, a busy district in Central
\nJakarta, young couples embraced tightly as if it was the last
\ntime they would see each other. The pretty faces of the women
\nwere filled with tears as their boyfriend soldiers left them. A
\nyoung girl gave a handkerchief to her beloved, a soldier who was
\nbeing sent to the front during the conflict between Indonesia and
\nMalaysia in the l950s.<\/p>\n
For songwriter Wedhasmara, the moment was beautiful and
\nheartbreaking, inspiring him to capture the emotion of the scene
\nin one of his hit songs, Senja Di Batas Kota, (Twilight in the
\nBorder City). Another touching moment, involving a nurse and her
\npatient, was portrayed in his famous song, Berpisah di Saint
\nCarolus, (Say Goodbye in Saint Carolus), named after a hospital
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In their time, those and many more of Wedhasmara's songs were
\nvery popular. Most of our parents grew up to the tune of
\nWedhasmara's songs. For more than four decades, he filled the
\nmemories of Indonesians with his music.<\/p>\n
Born to a Ksyatrian-caste (noble) family 70 years ago, I Gusti
\nPutu Gede Wedhasmara inherited his artistic talents from his
\nparents and grandparents, who were accomplished singers,
\nsculptors and actors in traditional Balinese dramas, or gambuh.<\/p>\n
The seventh of nine children, Wedhasmara began writing songs
\nwhen he was nine years and in elementary school. He listened to
\nlots of Dutch and Japanese music growing up, and soon become
\nsomething of a musical prodigy.<\/p>\n
His first composition, titled Masa Kecilku (My Childhood), was
\nperformed by one of the biggest stars of the day, Farida Aryani,
\nand became a hit.<\/p>\n
While still in the third grade, Wedhasmara insisted on moving
\nto a Dutch-only school for one reason -- a grand piano.<\/p>\n
Indigenous children were not allowed to enroll at the school,
\nbut the piano mesmerized the young Wedhasmara.<\/p>\n
\"With that piano, I could have composed more songs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During his teenage years, Wedhasmara formed a band, Terang
\nBulan, with his friends Gusti Made Cakra, Mertakota and Oka
\nSading, all of whom went on to become very successful artists.<\/p>\n
The band received support from prominent figures in Bali such
\nas Cokorda Sukawati, who was president of East Indonesia. They
\nwere also allowed to practice at the Puri Satrya palace in
\nDenpasar. Cokorda Mengwi, the king of Mengwi, also supported
\nWedhasmara and his music.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Wedhasmara had to quit the band to pursue his
\neducation in Yogyakarta. In the early l940s, Denpasar was behind
\ncities in Java in terms of providing educational facilities, let
\nalone a music school.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, the gifted Wedhasmara found his home. He made
\nfriends with Indonesia's great composers and musicians of the
\nday, including Gesang, Idris Sardi and the late Pranajaya.<\/p>\n
He took part in the Bintang Radio singing and writing contest,
\nand won it for the first time in l950.<\/p>\n
Wedhasmara continued composing song, including his hit Malam
\nKenangan (A Night to Remember).<\/p>\n
\"Almost all of my friends there in Yogyakarta were older than
\nme and accomplished musicians, but they never discouraged me.
\nThey motivated me to learn more about singing and composition,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
After graduating from a high school, Wedhasmara returned home
\nto Bali. \"I was offered so many jobs, including as a school
\nprincipal in Tabanan,\" he recalled, adding that at the time high
\nschool graduates were very respected.<\/p>\n
But Wedhasmara decided to try his luck in Jakarta, where he
\nbecame friends with many famous artists and musicians, including
\nIsmail Marzuki, Cornel Simanjuntak and Bing Slamet.<\/p>\n
The late Bing Slamet, the multitalented comedian, singer and
\nactor, gave Wedhasmara some of the best advice he ever received:
\n\"You'd better become a composer rather than a singer.\"<\/p>\n
He told Wedhasmara that only a few people could write a good
\nsong. \"And a good composer plays a big role in creating stars,\"
\nBing added.<\/p>\n
It was Wedhasmara's songs that launched so many Indonesian
\nsingers, including Titiek Puspa, Ernie Johan, Titiek Sandhora and
\nLayla Dimyati, to the top of the charts.<\/p>\n
Titiek Puspa won the Bintang Radio contest in Semarang,
\nCentral Java, in l958 singing a Wedhasmara song titled Senja di
\nWajah Ayu (Twilight on a Beautiful Face).<\/p>\n
Wedhasmara's first recorded song was Kau Selalu di Hatiku
\n(You're Always in My Heart), performed by Ernie Johan in l960.
\nThe song was recorded by Remako and rerecorded by Akurama
\nRecords, with Wedhasmara's permission.<\/p>\n
In the early l990s, Wedhasmara left the glittering world of
\nmusic and retired to his cozy home in Bali.<\/p>\n
The 70-year-old Wedhasmara is back in his hometown of
\nDenpasar, and filling his days with various social and customary
\nobligations in his banjar (customary village) of Batang Moning.<\/p>\n
Time has slowed down some for the once prolific songwriter. \"I
\nwrite some music and song compositions, just for fun,\" he said
\nduring a visit to his house.<\/p>\n
\"My days are now devoted for my grandchildren and my banjar,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
But his pleasant retirement was disturbed when he began
\nhearing his old songs on the radio. He found that many of his
\nsongs had been recorded on cassette and CD and were being sold in
\nlocal record stores.<\/p>\n
Since 2000, Nirwana Records, a Surabaya-based company, has
\nbeen recording, printing and distributing CDs and cassettes
\ncontaining Wedhasmara's songs without the songwriter's consent.<\/p>\n
\"I was one of the founders of Yayasan Karya Cipta Indonesia
\n(YKCI), so it is ironic that my songs are now being printed by an
\nirresponsible party,\" he sadly expressed.<\/p>\n
YKCI is a non-profit organization that fights to protect the
\nintellectual property rights of Indonesia's song composers and
\nsingers.<\/p>\n
\"The company has violated my intellectual property rights,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Wedhasmara also expressed sadness that many composers were not
\nyet aware of their rights, and that a large number of recording
\ncompanies were taking advantage of their ignorance.<\/p>\n
\"I will fight for my rights, and I encourage my fellow artists
\nto do likewise,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/composer-wedhasmara-demands-his-rights-1447893297",
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