Last of the ragtime pianists

Last of the ragtime pianists

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"We always call him a ragtime specialist. I think there's no
other ragtime pianist here in Indonesia. It's too difficult to
become one," jazz guitarist Ireng Maulana, who has played with
pianist Hendra Wijaya since 1972, said about his friend, who
passed away on Sunday night.

Seasoned pianist Hendra, 56, died in the hospital after a two-
week struggle with cancer, leaving wife Jenny Wijaya and two
daughters Ferani, 25, and Karina, 22.

"About two weeks ago, he complained of breathing difficulties
and had a fever. He was diagnosed of suffering from several
infections, including an intestinal one," Jenny, 56, told The
Jakarta Post from their house in West Jakarta.

"Later, the doctor also said he had lung cancer that had
spread from his kidneys," Jenny added. "The cancer had reached
the fourth stage; we were never aware of that before."

Hendra, a Catholic, will be cremated on Wednesday, Jenny said.

"Besides music, Hendra loved the sea. He loved diving, so we
shall spread his ashes in the sea," Jenny said.

Hendra was scheduled to perform at Erasmus Huis on Nov. 24
with Ireng Maulana All Stars.

The group will play songs from their latest album, Sweet
Jazzy. From 10 songs in the album, Hendra Wijaya performed a
piano solo in Crazy, a song made popular by Julio Iglesias.

Hendra learned to play piano first by himself and later under
the tuition of maestro Nick Mamahit.

In 1973 Hendra won the Yamaha Distinguished Performance award.

He performed hundreds of concerts at home and in the U.S.
Europe, Australia and several Asian countries.

A director of a music school, he was also a private piano
tutor for a few advanced learners.

Besides making several recordings with Ireng Maulana All
Stars, he made a number of solo albums: Hendra Wijaya's Ragtime
Band (1981), Soft Beautiful Romantic vol. 1 and vol. 2 (1986 and
1987) and Romantic Piano (1990).