Indonesia pays tribute to Pranadjaja

JAKARTA (JP): Pranadjaja Djojodinoto, Indonesia's renowned tenor, and classical and pop music teacher, left his Jl. Radio IV residence in South Jakarta for the last time yesterday to the song of As Long As I Have Music performed by 35 of his students.

The body of Pranadjaja, founder of the Bina Vokalia music foundation who died of a heart attack while on stage Sunday, was brought to Tanah Kusir Cemetery yesterday for burial after friends, government officials and students paid their tributes.

More than 200 people came to his residence to pay their last respects and to console grieving relatives.

Azwar Anas, coordinating minister for people's welfare, said it would be very difficult to replace a man of Pranadjaja's genius for teaching music.

"His fight was to increase the stature of the country in music. One requires a thorough understanding of music to be able to win competitions in so many notable parts of the world known for music," said Azwar.

"His dedication to his profession was total."

Azwar added that Pranadjaja's widow told him that their youngest daughter, Citra Ambarsari, 27, had been asked by her father to follow in his footsteps and run the foundation.

Azwar said he would "check to see if Pranadjaja was going to be specially awarded by the Ministry of Education and Culture for his merits."

Music conductor and violinist Idris Sardi said Pranadjaja's death dealt a major blow to the nation.

Whether in classical, pop or fusion, Pranadjaja was "one who had a keen understanding of music which made him able to deal with the 'globalized' aspects of it," Idris said.

"He was music's very own patriot. I call him a patriot because he did not commercialize his talent. He educated people with it."

He added that he was truly sad because "it has become too difficult an era to cope without this man."

Vocalist Titiek Puspa, who has just celebrated her 60th birthday on Saturday, said: "The man was extremely thorough when it came to his students. Whether Hetty Koes Endang or Titi Dwijayati, I don't know any student of his who has come out of Bina Vokalia feeling insecure about his or her vocal skills."

"Whenever I needed vocal support for my music, all I had to do was call him and he would promptly send me his best students."

Students and parents who met at the residence recalled vividly seeing the 66-year old Pranadjaja fall to the ground shortly after performing a solo at the Jakarta Japanese School in South Jakarta.

"I was there to see my granddaughters Amanda and Putri perform. He was strong enough to sing O' Solemio. I saw him near the corner of the stage, when there was a loud thud," said a mourning woman.

Pranadjaja was pronounced dead at approximately 5 p.m. Sunday on the way to Pondok Indah Hospital.

A pianist at Bina Vokalia, Lily Irman, said the students seemed to be holding up quite well, considering that Pranadjaja fell "right in front of them".

Student vocalist Melissa said she would truly miss her teacher. "He used to work eight to 10 hours a day, so we used to see a lot of him. He was a very disciplined person," she said.

"At every dress rehearsal, he would have us in our costumes, singing till perfection. If anything was out of place, he would call us privately and explain the mistake."

The tenor was however, more known for engaging in educational pursuits than making his own name in the glamor-world of music.

Born in Yogyakarta in 1929, Pranadjaja is survived by his widow, four daughters and 10 grandchildren.

He served as commander of Battalion XV of Yogyakarta (1945- 1947) before working at the Ministry of Home Affairs (1952-1958) and later, at the Ministry of Education and Culture (1958-1978). In his lifetime, he received many national awards, including a notable one by the Japanese government,The Order of Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.

His work as an educator won him international recognition through his foundation Bina Vokalia, founded in 1972. The main branch has approximately 1,000 students in Jakarta with instructors giving a variety of lessons in vocals, piano, guitar and violin. The foundation has branched out to major cities in Indonesia and boasts thousands of alumni throughout the nation. (02)