Nation mourns passing of patriotic composer H. Mutahar

Nation mourns passing of patriotic composer H. Mutahar

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

The nation is mourning the death of noted patriotic song composer
Husein Mutahar, who was buried on Thursday.

Mutahar, who passed away at the age of 88 on Wednesday, was
said by many to have contributed to the development of
nationalism and patriotism through his songs.

Born on Aug. 5, 1916, Mutahar was deeply involved in the
independence movement and was instrumental in keeping the
country's first national flag from falling into the hands of
Dutch troops who attempted to restore colonial rule in the
country after World War II.

A self-taught musician, Mutahar served as an adjutant to the
country's founding President Sukarno, who often asked him to lead
the audience in singing the national anthem at state events.

Of the 199 songs he composed, Syukur (Thank God) and Hari
Merdeka (Independence Day) are the most popular.

Syukur was written on Sept. 7, 1944, when Mutahar saw many
local residents in his hometown, Semarang, eat snails to survive.

"I burst into tears when composing the song but I thanked God
and believed He would enable the nation to survive," he was
quoted by Tempo magazine as saying during an interview in 2002.

Many students of all ages have memorized and will find
themselves moved by his lyrics, such as these lines from Hari
Merdeka:

Once free, stay free/ As long as the soul is still in the
body.

Apart from his keen interest in music, Mutahar, who never
married and who is survived by his nine adopted children, was
active in the National Scout Movement.

He also once served as Indonesian Ambassador to the Vatican
and held high-ranking posts at the Ministry of Education and
Culture.

Mutahar died in the home of his adopted son, Sunyoto, in
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. He had asked not to be buried in
the National Heroes' cemetery, even though he was a recipient of
the state medal of honor.

Then minister of education and culture Juwono Sudarsono
conferred the medal on Mutahar in 1999, along with other
recipients, including education expert the late Drijarkara,
musician the late Mochtar Embut, violinist Idris Sardi and singer
Titiek Puspa.

Mutahar joined W.R. Supratman, Cornel Simandjuntak, Ismail
Marzuki, Sudharnoto, Alfred Simandjuntak and others in the hall
of fame of patriotic song composers, most of whom have already
passed away.

Mutahar moved to his adopted son's house after his own house
on Jl. Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta, was razed by fire on July 16,
2000, due to an electrical short circuit in the house next door.

Almost all of his belongings were destroyed, except his song
manuscripts.

He was buried at Jeruk Purut public cemetery, South Jakarta,
on Thursday.

Several former government officials paid their last respects
to him, including former state minister/state secretary Moerdiono
and former Supreme Court justice Benyamin Mangkudilaga.