Addie MS finds peace in symphonic music

T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta

Addie Muljadi Sumaatmadja, popularly known as Addie MS, had received many awards and made a lot of money during his 10-year career in pop music. But he was restless.

"There is something that I couldn't find in pop music. If I listen to classical music, it is so deep, you open it layer by layer and it won't last ...," he said.

Against all odds, Addie, along with fellow musician Oddie Agam and businessman Indra Bakrie, in 1991 set up the Twilite Orchestra, a pops orchestra which plays not only classical music, but also pop and traditional music arranged symphonically, film music, musicals and operas.

The orchestra has managed to gain public trust and respect, performing twice a month on average, and has collaborated with international artists like Natalie Cole, David Foster, Richard Clayderman and Maxim.

Addie, a self-taught musician who started to learn piano at the age of 13, established the Twilite Youth Orchestra (TYO) last year. His eldest son, Kevin, a talented pianist and violist, joined it, but resigned not long after. The young artist's decision broke his father's heart, but Addie knew he could not force him, especially as Addie himself was a rebellious child who later received harsh criticism from his father because of his determination to become a musician.

Addie, 46, has two sons, Kevin, 15, and Tristan, 8, from his marriage to pop singer Memes.

He shared his feelings and ideas with The Jakarta Post during an interview at his office in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.

Question: What are your duties as the music director and conductor of Twilite Orchestra?

Answer: I have to arrange the repertoires, the program, the concept, the stage. We have to practice together with all musicians for between one and four days, depending on the repertoires. The rehearsal is not to make us memorize everything; there must be a condition which is safe, but not 100 percent safe. If we practice for 10 days, we will surely be safe, but if we are too safe, we will not be able to feel the beauty of the music; we will miss the surprising elements, we will miss the novelty.

How many members does the orchestra have?

Usually 70, sometimes 80, sometimes 50.

Is it more difficult to work with more people?

The fewer musicians you have, the more difficult it is. If one of 80 musicians makes a mistake, the audience might not notice, but if one of 20 musicians makes a mistake, this could be dangerous.

The Twilite Orchestra used to perform in schools and shopping malls. What happened to that program?

We started the outreach program for elementary school students in 1998. We invited them to watch our rehearsals and we explained things to them. We also visited schools in a group of usually between 8 and 14 people. We wanted to show them that classical music was not always serious, that it could also be fun.

I take pity on young people in Indonesia. What they know about music in the world is only pop, rock and dangdut, which they see on TV or listen to on the radio. We wanted to show them that there are other kinds of music, like the art music that needs some appreciation to enjoy.

How's the outreach program now?

Now we have the Twilite Youth Orchestra, which was established in August 2004, with some 60 members, aged between 10 and 22 years old. Led by Erik Awuy, it aims at facilitating (talented) young people while transmitting their love for music with their peers. They perform for free in schools, once every six months.

Did your son join the TYO?

I encouraged him to join it and he did, following a tight audition. But he quit after a few months. He's a talented pianist and violist, but he prefers to play solo, individually, rather than in a band. I am very sad. I set up an ensemble, which I thought was very ideal. In my heart, I said I wished I could join it when I was a kid. I set up this ensemble, but my own son could not enjoy it. But it's his right. I cannot not force him.

Both your sons play music well. How could they be that good?

Maybe because they are brought up with music. But also because I told them to learn piano since they were three-and-a-half. Learning music is an obligation, like learning Koran recital. If they are lazy, we try every effort (to make them overcome the laziness). My elder son is now thankful, saying that he feels grateful he can now play piano in front of the girls (to impress them).

About yourself, how did you build a career as a musician when your father wanted you to become a businessman?

It happened that my father was a (successful) businessman who started from zero until he owned a big tile factory, but none of his children followed in his footsteps. I tried to become a cashier but I couldn't keep the books balanced. I don't think I have talent for business and so I decided not to continue.

Finally my father sold everything, but his health was affected. He used to work everyday, but suddenly he stopped working. His health deteriorated and he later died. It was me who told him to sell (the factory) because he was old and should take a rest. He followed my words but he did not enjoy his life. Poor him. I should have let him (keep working). (Addie looks sad and is silent for a moment).

Do you like music because of your mother?

Mother and her family love classical music. My auntie and my cousin can play the piano. When I was a kid I liked to spend the night at my grandparent's house in Bandung. I really enjoyed listening to my auntie or my cousin playing the piano. When I was playing in the yard and I heard the sound of the piano, I would stop playing and rush house. I would sit and watch her from behind, enjoying the music without her knowledge. I started learning to play piano when I was in junior high school.

Why didn't you go to a formal school to study music?

For me, a degree was not important. What's important is the results.

I preferred short courses or workshops. I took a short course on recording engineering in Ohio in 1984 and a conducting workshop in Los Angeles in 1995.

Indonesia does not have any concert hall that allows the performance of concerts without any sound system. There are sound engineers for bands, but not for orchestras. So, since the Twilite Orchestra was set up in 1991 until today, I become an engineer for every single concert that we have. For instance, if the concert starts at 8 p.m., I have to start working at 11 a.m., setting the microphones, checking all (of the instruments) and taking a break at 6 p.m. I don't know if I could stand it when I am in my 50s. This is a tiring job, I have to run here and there, wearing a headphone, checking the mixer, moving the loud speakers, checking the first violin, the second violin. etc. I have to set every button. And then at 8 p.m. I become a musician. I wish I could just become a "normal" musician, but I could not find anyone to replace me.

Some say that classical music is for the rich.

In Europe in the 16th ,17th century, classical music was not for all. In the 18th or 19th century, people started to build concert halls but the image that classical music is for the noble family remains. What's more, the instruments are expensive. A violin may cost Rp 20 million, or hundreds of million rupiah. A good piano may cost up to Rp 3 billion. When you watch a concert, you have to be dressed formally like the musicians.

So there is an image that classical music is for the rich. That's why I felt the challenge to socialize classical or symphonic music in a casual way, for instance, by playing the music in shopping malls.

Does the Twilite Youth Orchestra also perform at shopping malls?

Not yet. The funny thing is, once we wanted to perform at Citos (Cilandak Town Square) for free, but we were told to pay Rp 70 million. If there is any other place which is interested, just send us the request. And also, if there are any students who want to watch our rehearsals, we would be very happy. I will surely share at least 30 minutes for students to explain the music.

What about your activities now?

Over the past 15 years, I have arranged the music for only one or two songs (for pop singers). I composed the Indonesian Army March and Hymn (in 2003). This year I have already arranged music for some singers like Agnes Monica and Baby Romeo and Rita Effendi. I also make music for film scoring. This is a film of young romance. Two years ago I made the music for Biola Tak Berdawai (The Stringless Violin), a very serious and complicated film which received awards at a film festival but was not popular in the market. This new film is totally different. I want to prove that even in a teen film, symphonic music and orchestras can also work.

I record all of my music in Melbourne or Sydney because the studios are better and I can record the songs faster: one hour for at one song, that is for sure.

What's the process? Do you have to bring all of the musicians to Australia?

No. All of the musicians are from Australia, either from the Melbourne Symphony or the Sydney Symphony (Orchestras). I only make the musical scores, print them and bring them in a suitcase. The musicians come at 10 a.m., I distribute the musical scores, I conduct the orchestra and it is done instantly.

What do you do for fun other than listening to music?

Reading and watching movies. I also enjoy opera, unfortunately, there is no opera here. I read books which have to do with music. When I was at junior high school, I still had time to read novels, like NH Dini's Pada Sebuah Kapal, that's my favorite.

Where did you go to school?

I went to elementary school and high school in Jakarta. I went to three junior high schools; I was disobedient, rebellious, very progressive, I did not like teachers who were authoritarian. If there was such a teacher, I preferred to play truant. But I didn't loiter; I returned home to read or play the piano.

After I graduated from high school, I wanted to make a living from music, but my parents did not agree. I enrolled at Trisakti University and was accepted, but I changed my mind as I wanted to learn more about music. Then I changed my mind again and I went to Unkris (Krisndwipayana University), majoring in economics. After half a year later, (composer) Titiek Hamzah asked me to join a (pop) song festival in Chile and conduct the orchestra. I was inexperienced and afraid, but she made me do it. It turned out that we won second place. Upon my arrival in Jakarta, I said goodbye to my friends at the college.

I learned music by myself from books.

In the first 10 years of my career in music, I focused on pop music. I could make money, but I felt that I missed something. I spent my money that I earned from pop music to enjoy classical music. Twice a year I went to New York, where I watched opera and bought books and recordings of non-pop music, like jazz and classical music. At that time I did not realize that one day I would need all of them, until I switched to classical music.

Why did you switch to classical music?

I had reached a point when I wanted to satisfy the unsatisfied (desire), I don't know what it was called. I don't want to belittle pop music. But if I listen to classical music, it is so deep, you open it layer by layer. In 1990 I already had a house and a car. I asked for my wife's permission (to switch from pop music). It was like a gambling. At that time I received many orders for jingles and it was quite easy to make money, but I think life is only once, life is not just for money. So I switched (to classical music). I was in a big financial trouble, especially in the first year. Luckily, Indra Bakti from Bakri and Brothers became the patron (of Twilite Orchestra) and subsidized us.

Your decision to switch from pop music must have surprised many people. What's your reaction?

Yes. At the beginning, Memes objected, which was really normal. It was quite difficult to tell her because I made the decision by choice, not by force. It was a drastic decision. I might look stupid. God had blessed me with ease but I searched for something else that was more difficult. I don't know why but Memes finally accepted.

She herself makes money, sometimes more than I do. Basically we allow each other -- children, father, mother -- to get the same opportunity to develop oneself freely for self actualization, being democratic. Indeed, this is what makes us lead a happy life.

You smoke cigars?

Every afternoon at about 4 to 5 p.m., I smoke a cigar and look up to the sky to enjoy its beauty, enjoying the beauty of life, watching the sunset, daydreaming. And then I will spend time with my family, having dinner together before I work until about 2 a.m.

Do you get inspiration from daydreaming?

Inspiration is not something that you can get by being passive. You have to be active. I usually get inspiration when I work at my table, within a conducive atmosphere. It is not like wangsit (inspiration from a supernatural power).