Rudolf Supratman, a forgotten composer<\/p>\n
Year after year, ever since the independence of the Republic
\nof Indonesia was proclaimed urbi et orbi on Aug. 17, 1945, the
\nIndonesia Raya, as the national anthem, has met and always meets
\nits perpetual glory by being played and sung in state ceremonies
\nor events at schools and public offices.<\/p>\n
This year the Indonesia Raya greets its 55th anniversary,
\nalong with the anniversary of the Republic. Counting from its
\ninception, when the song was first introduced in 1928, the
\nIndonesia Raya celebrates its 72nd anniversary.<\/p>\n
The grandeur of the song is felt when it is sung and listened
\nto in ceremonies held abroad, as nostalgic memories of the
\ncountry, its people, and its history arise in one's mind, in
\naccompaniment to the song. To an Indonesian abroad, the Indonesia
\nRaya is revered for its patriotic message, while its vigorous
\nbeat is always inspiring.<\/p>\n
But when the national anthem is played in ceremonies or is
\nsung by an audience, few would care to remember its composer,
\nWage Rudolf Supratman.<\/p>\n
Born in Jatinegara (during the Dutch times this Batavian
\nsuburb was called Meester Cornelis), on March 9, 1903, Rudolf
\nSupratman began his educational career at the elementary school
\nof Budi Utomo at Cimahi, Bandung, where he finished his studies
\nin 1914. He later moved to Makassar, where he finished teachers
\nschool in 1920 at the age of 17. He started his occupational
\ncareer as a journalist at the Kaum Muda (Young Generation) daily
\nin Bandung in 1924 and later moved to the Sin Po daily in Batavia
\n(Jakarta) in 1925.<\/p>\n
Three years later his name suddenly became famous as the
\ncomposer of the song which later became the Indonesian national
\nanthem. It is said that the song was introduced for the first
\ntime on Oct. 28, 1928 by Wage Rudolf Supratman during the closure
\nof the Congress of the Indonesian Youth, which in Indonesian
\nhistory became famous as the initiator of the Sumpah Pemuda
\n(Indonesian Youth Pledge) which called for one state, one nation,
\nand one national language, Bahasa Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The congress took place in a building, at the time called
\nIndonesische Clubgebow (Indonesian Club building) located at Jl.
\nKramat Raya 106, Batavia. Rudolf Supratman sang and played the
\ntune on his violin, and it is said that the audience greeted the
\nsong jubilantly and shed tears.<\/p>\n
Then, at the Volksraad (the People's Council) under the Dutch
\ncolonial reign, two prominent members of an Indonesian
\nnationalist group, Moh. Husni Thamrin and Sukardjo Wirjopranoto,
\nintroduced a motion to the Dutch colonial government to have the
\nsong recognized and authorized to be sung in public. But the
\neffort was futile.<\/p>\n
During the Japanese occupation, when Bung Karno and Bung Hatta
\nvisited Tokyo on Nov. 16, 1943, the two leaders made an appeal to
\nthe then Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo to permit the
\nIndonesia Raya to be sung in public. But not until Sept. 7, 1944,
\nunder the reign of the successor, Gen. Koiso, who officially
\nannounced the promise of independence, had the Indonesia Raya
\nbeen permitted to be sung in public.<\/p>\n
Now, when this story is told, and one listens to the solemn
\npresentation of the national anthem with its glorious and vivid
\nbeat, it is strange that the name of the composer, Wage Rudolf
\nSupratman is remembered no more. No city, neither Jatinegara,
\nCimahi, nor Surabaya, has a monument to commemorate the composer
\nof the national anthem. Wage Rudolf Supratman died in Surabaya on
\nAug. 17, 1938.<\/p>\n
S. SUHAEDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rudolf-supratman-a-forgotten-composer-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }