Composer Wedhasmara demands his rights

Ni Luh Dian, Contributor, Denpasar

On that bright afternoon in Senen, a busy district in Central Jakarta, young couples embraced tightly as if it was the last time they would see each other. The pretty faces of the women were filled with tears as their boyfriend soldiers left them. A young girl gave a handkerchief to her beloved, a soldier who was being sent to the front during the conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia in the l950s.

For songwriter Wedhasmara, the moment was beautiful and heartbreaking, inspiring him to capture the emotion of the scene in one of his hit songs, Senja Di Batas Kota, (Twilight in the Border City). Another touching moment, involving a nurse and her patient, was portrayed in his famous song, Berpisah di Saint Carolus, (Say Goodbye in Saint Carolus), named after a hospital in Jakarta.

In their time, those and many more of Wedhasmara's songs were very popular. Most of our parents grew up to the tune of Wedhasmara's songs. For more than four decades, he filled the memories of Indonesians with his music.

Born to a Ksyatrian-caste (noble) family 70 years ago, I Gusti Putu Gede Wedhasmara inherited his artistic talents from his parents and grandparents, who were accomplished singers, sculptors and actors in traditional Balinese dramas, or gambuh.

The seventh of nine children, Wedhasmara began writing songs when he was nine years and in elementary school. He listened to lots of Dutch and Japanese music growing up, and soon become something of a musical prodigy.

His first composition, titled Masa Kecilku (My Childhood), was performed by one of the biggest stars of the day, Farida Aryani, and became a hit.

While still in the third grade, Wedhasmara insisted on moving to a Dutch-only school for one reason -- a grand piano.

Indigenous children were not allowed to enroll at the school, but the piano mesmerized the young Wedhasmara.

"With that piano, I could have composed more songs," he said.

During his teenage years, Wedhasmara formed a band, Terang Bulan, with his friends Gusti Made Cakra, Mertakota and Oka Sading, all of whom went on to become very successful artists.

The band received support from prominent figures in Bali such as Cokorda Sukawati, who was president of East Indonesia. They were also allowed to practice at the Puri Satrya palace in Denpasar. Cokorda Mengwi, the king of Mengwi, also supported Wedhasmara and his music.

Nevertheless, Wedhasmara had to quit the band to pursue his education in Yogyakarta. In the early l940s, Denpasar was behind cities in Java in terms of providing educational facilities, let alone a music school.

In Yogyakarta, the gifted Wedhasmara found his home. He made friends with Indonesia's great composers and musicians of the day, including Gesang, Idris Sardi and the late Pranajaya.

He took part in the Bintang Radio singing and writing contest, and won it for the first time in l950.

Wedhasmara continued composing song, including his hit Malam Kenangan (A Night to Remember).

"Almost all of my friends there in Yogyakarta were older than me and accomplished musicians, but they never discouraged me. They motivated me to learn more about singing and composition," he said.

After graduating from a high school, Wedhasmara returned home to Bali. "I was offered so many jobs, including as a school principal in Tabanan," he recalled, adding that at the time high school graduates were very respected.

But Wedhasmara decided to try his luck in Jakarta, where he became friends with many famous artists and musicians, including Ismail Marzuki, Cornel Simanjuntak and Bing Slamet.

The late Bing Slamet, the multitalented comedian, singer and actor, gave Wedhasmara some of the best advice he ever received: "You'd better become a composer rather than a singer."

He told Wedhasmara that only a few people could write a good song. "And a good composer plays a big role in creating stars," Bing added.

It was Wedhasmara's songs that launched so many Indonesian singers, including Titiek Puspa, Ernie Johan, Titiek Sandhora and Layla Dimyati, to the top of the charts.

Titiek Puspa won the Bintang Radio contest in Semarang, Central Java, in l958 singing a Wedhasmara song titled Senja di Wajah Ayu (Twilight on a Beautiful Face).

Wedhasmara's first recorded song was Kau Selalu di Hatiku (You're Always in My Heart), performed by Ernie Johan in l960. The song was recorded by Remako and rerecorded by Akurama Records, with Wedhasmara's permission.

In the early l990s, Wedhasmara left the glittering world of music and retired to his cozy home in Bali.

The 70-year-old Wedhasmara is back in his hometown of Denpasar, and filling his days with various social and customary obligations in his banjar (customary village) of Batang Moning.

Time has slowed down some for the once prolific songwriter. "I write some music and song compositions, just for fun," he said during a visit to his house.

"My days are now devoted for my grandchildren and my banjar," he said.

But his pleasant retirement was disturbed when he began hearing his old songs on the radio. He found that many of his songs had been recorded on cassette and CD and were being sold in local record stores.

Since 2000, Nirwana Records, a Surabaya-based company, has been recording, printing and distributing CDs and cassettes containing Wedhasmara's songs without the songwriter's consent.

"I was one of the founders of Yayasan Karya Cipta Indonesia (YKCI), so it is ironic that my songs are now being printed by an irresponsible party," he sadly expressed.

YKCI is a non-profit organization that fights to protect the intellectual property rights of Indonesia's song composers and singers.

"The company has violated my intellectual property rights," he said.

Wedhasmara also expressed sadness that many composers were not yet aware of their rights, and that a large number of recording companies were taking advantage of their ignorance.

"I will fight for my rights, and I encourage my fellow artists to do likewise," he said.