Patriotism and musicality proven not mutually exclusive

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

From its title -- Concert to Commemorate Independence Day -- the event promised little more than a generous rendition of rousing compositions served up -- as Wagner's were during the 1930s -- to glorify the sanctified motherland.

In reality, though, it was worth checking out what the concert had to offer, especially as the brains behind it were Peter F. Gontha and Paul Dankmeyer, the pair that successfully brought Java Jazz to the capital earlier this year.

It was also worth a visit because the prime mover of the show was Minister of National Education Bambang Soedibyo, a professor in economics, who is also known to be an avid music buff.

And, it turned out that the concert delivered more than anyone could have hoped for -- especially those ordered to attend Wednesday's concert at Balai Sarbini, The Plaza Semanggi, by their superiors.

The title of the show and list of songs that appeared on the program were indeed somewhat off-putting.

For many concertgoers, mostly Indonesian nationals, patriotic songs such as Bangun Pemuda Pemudi (Time To Rise Up), Bagimu Negeri (For You, My Country), Indonesia Pusaka (Sacred Indonesia) may no longer brim with patriotic appeal, as these were drummed into them from early childhood.

But in the hands of selected performers and a surprise guest, as well as two of the country's finest orchestras, the Nusantara Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of the Yogyakarta Art Institute (ISI) that accompanied them, the songs turned into gems that produced a captivating show.

If the objective was to reinvigorate long-lost love for the motherland, the performers served their country well, as every song gave the audience goosebumps and a steady rush of new affection for the land of their birth.

Opened with a children's choir belting out Aku Anak Indonesia (I Am An Indonesian Child), it seemed as though the audience's greatest fear of another dull show would indeed materialize.

Martial drums drowned out the singing; when the choir was finally audible, what the concertgoers got harked back to their schooldays when they were required to sing patriotic songs every Monday at a pledge-of-allegiance ritual.

After a grinding start, the concert began to unveil its true identity when young "lite"-jazz singer Andien took the stage to perform a mesmerizing rendition of Ambilkan Bulan (Get Me the Moon), a children song penned by composer A.T. Mahmud.

Although Andien's smooth vocals suggested that the song was a children's lullaby, conductor Purwatjaraka led his orchestra to provide a lush soundscape that gave full reign to the composition's grandeur.

Purwatjaraka, who also acted as concert director, was smart enough not to disappoint the crowd early on with a steady flow of patriotic songs; he decided to give a crowd-pleaser only 15 minutes into the concert.

People may have been bored to death with the ubiquitous Ada Apa Denganmu (What's Up With You), a power-pop ballad by local band Peterpan, but turning it into a symphonic piece complete with a lengthy violin solo was a stroke of genius.

The piece was a revelation in Purwatjaraka's hand.

After a solo violin coda from Ada Apa faded from the sound system, there was an eerie feeling that the song had a uniquely indigenous character to it.

In what could be considered her best performance of the evening, Andien turned up after Ada Apa to sing a faithful rendition of Bagimu Negeri.

Giving our utmost devotion to the motherland, as the lyrics in the song suggest, may not be a good idea these days, but, listening to Andien's version, it was right.

The show's finest moment, however, came after a 15-minute intermission, when world jazz violinist Doug Cameron upstaged all that had gone before.

Cameron was, without doubt, the main event, turning a supposedly stately concert into a jazzy affair.

His performance may have clocked in at less than 20 minutes, but he managed to elide from jazz to classical to flamenco with great finesse.

Two of his four compositions, flamenco-ish Maggia Espanola and ode to actor Michael Landon Letter to A Friend were indicative of his consummate musicianship.

Two other numbers struck a chord with the Indonesians present.

In Minuit Bach, it was heartening to see a world-class maestro join a troupe of 50 Indonesian kids who played their violins in his support.

No less inspiring was his take on Indonesia Pusaka.

Played in its unadulterated form the venerable, patriotic tune has a divine character: Cameron managed to capture the quintessence of the song.

Ultimately, Cameron and other performers in the concert gave a very convincing demonstration that patriotic songs need not necessarily be about noisy flag-waving.