1,500 spectators overwhelmed by Independence Symphony
BOGOR (JP): It looked like Vienna at night, only the venue was the Bogor Palace, where 1,500 people in formal attire were enjoying a historic concert called Simponi Kemerdekaan (Independence Symphony) presented by the Twilite Orchestra.
The concert opened with the national anthem Indonesia Raya, which Twilite Orchestra director Addie M.S. said was being presented correctly for the first time. And, without any prompting, everybody in the audience stood up from their chairs and listened attentively to the song.
It was only appropriate that the Twilite Orchestra presented Indonesia Raya at last night's concert which was held as part of the celebrations of the country's 50th anniversary.
"The Indonesia Raya we often hear is improperly sung or played, and not in accordance with its original arrangement," said Addie in an interview with The Jakarta Post last week.
"Maybe this is the first time Indonesia Raya has been fully orchestrated in a proper and correct way," Addie added.
Simponi Kemerdekaan consisted of compositions by noted Indonesian and foreign composers, including Ismail Marzuki, as well as famous regional songs. The 63-member orchestra performed on an open-air, 600-square-meter stage in front of the palace. Guests sat on the green lawn under a moonlit sky, savoring the melodies of the past presented by the orchestra backed by a 60- member choir led by Ronald Pohan and a number of noted Indonesian singers, including Koes Hendratmo, Titiek Puspa and Andi Meriem Mattalata.
Minister of Justice Oetoyo Usman and Minister of Tourism Post, Telecommunications Joop Ave and a number of prominent businessmen, including Prajogo Pangestu, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Nugroho B. Sukamdani and William Surjadjaja were in the audience.
Twilite closed the concert with Peter I. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which was accompanied by a firework show from behind the palace building. The firework display lent power to the song, leaviong the audience transfixed in their chairs. As soon as the song was over, the stood up and gave a long applause, asking for more. The orchestra played another three songs, Winter Games, Jali Jali and Bagimu Negri.
"I enjoyed the concert very much. This orchestra deserves praise for its effort to teach us to appreciate this kind of difficult music," said prominent businesswoman Dewi Motik.
She added that the concert was an indication that the country has achieved a certain economic success that enables the government and people to pay attention to this type of music.
Minister Joop Ave shared Dewi's delight in the concert, adding that it was high time the country had a proper concert hall.
"Ministers Wardiman and Habibie (the ministers of education and culture and of technology, respectively) and I are actually planning to build a proper concert hall in Jakarta," said Joop.
Concert supervisor Ishadi said although the concert ran as planned, there are many things still to be learned about putting on such presentations.
"We are not experienced in holding open-air concerts, that's why we invited foreign consultants to handle the sound system and lighting," said Ishadi. "If not properly handled, the sound won't come out well."
The Twilite Orchestra spent a only week to prepare for the concert due to high rehearsal expenses.
"A rehearsal costs Rp 150,000 (US$ 66)," said Addie.
The high cost is partly due to the fact that half of the Twilite Orchestra's members are lecturers at Yogyakarta's Institute of Arts. The management has to provide accommodations and cover travel expenses for them.
Last night's show cost over Rp 500 million (US$222,222), minus the rent for the palace.
Maybe the lack of practice explains the orchestra's lackluster performance last night. The sounds from the various instruments just did not blend. But despite the shortcomings, the Twilite Orchestra's attempts at providing good entertainment calls for applause. After all, not many people are willing to spend their time and energy for this kind of music in Indonesia. (swa)