Last of the ragtime pianists<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
\"We always call him a ragtime specialist. I think there's no
\nother ragtime pianist here in Indonesia. It's too difficult to
\nbecome one,\" jazz guitarist Ireng Maulana, who has played with
\npianist Hendra Wijaya since 1972, said about his friend, who
\npassed away on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Seasoned pianist Hendra, 56, died in the hospital after a two-
\nweek struggle with cancer, leaving wife Jenny Wijaya and two
\ndaughters Ferani, 25, and Karina, 22.<\/p>\n
\"About two weeks ago, he complained of breathing difficulties
\nand had a fever. He was diagnosed of suffering from several
\ninfections, including an intestinal one,\" Jenny, 56, told The
\nJakarta Post from their house in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Later, the doctor also said he had lung cancer that had
\nspread from his kidneys,\" Jenny added. \"The cancer had reached
\nthe fourth stage; we were never aware of that before.\"<\/p>\n
Hendra, a Catholic, will be cremated on Wednesday, Jenny said.<\/p>\n
\"Besides music, Hendra loved the sea. He loved diving, so we
\nshall spread his ashes in the sea,\" Jenny said.<\/p>\n
Hendra was scheduled to perform at Erasmus Huis on Nov. 24
\nwith Ireng Maulana All Stars.<\/p>\n
The group will play songs from their latest album, Sweet
\nJazzy. From 10 songs in the album, Hendra Wijaya performed a
\npiano solo in Crazy, a song made popular by Julio Iglesias.<\/p>\n
Hendra learned to play piano first by himself and later under
\nthe tuition of maestro Nick Mamahit.<\/p>\n
In 1973 Hendra won the Yamaha Distinguished Performance award.<\/p>\n
He performed hundreds of concerts at home and in the U.S.
\nEurope, Australia and several Asian countries.<\/p>\n
A director of a music school, he was also a private piano
\ntutor for a few advanced learners.<\/p>\n
Besides making several recordings with Ireng Maulana All
\nStars, he made a number of solo albums: Hendra Wijaya's Ragtime
\nBand (1981), Soft Beautiful Romantic vol. 1 and vol. 2 (1986 and
\n1987) and Romantic Piano (1990).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/last-of-the-ragtime-pianists-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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