Sad songs mark Bagong's passing
Sad songs mark Bagong's passing
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post/Bantul, Yogyakarta
The strains of the classical Javanese song Mega Mendung followed by the mournful Ayak-ayak Tlutur accompanied the solemn procession at the tranquil residence of seasoned choreographer Bagong Kussudiardjo in Kembaran village of Bantul regency, in Yogyakarta, on Wednesday.
The tembang (Javanese tunes) played on the gamelan used to prompt him to sway on stage. But this time they escorted him to his resting place. The maestro died at 11 p.m. on Tuesday from complications from diabetes, prostate, lung and heart disease. He had been treated at Bethesda Hospital since last week.
The artist -- born in Yogyakarta on Oct. 9, 1928 -- is survived by seven children, 21 grandchildren and two great grandchildren from his first marriage with Soetina, who died on June 12, 1997. He remarried not long after her death.
A keen artist, Bagong was known for his profound love of traditional classical dance and bringing a contemporary edge to the genre.
Various awards had been bestowed upon Bagong, among them the Ministry of Education and Culture Award in 1985, the prestigious Adhikarya Pariwisata Pos and Telekomunikasi Award in 1992 (from the then ministry of tourism, post and telecommunication) and awards from Permata Bank and Yogyakarta-based daily Kedaulatan Rakyat, both in 2003.
His dance company, Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardjo, has danced on thousands of stages here and abroad showcasing Bagong's work. Among his work are Ngremo, Yapong, Jaran Teji and Bhayangkara. Besides dance, Bagong, a descendant of Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII, also created a number of legendary sendratari (dance dramas), such as Arjuna Wiwaha, Gadjah Mada and Berkibarnya Sang Saka (Flying Sacred Flag).
One of his sons, monolog artist Butet Kertaredjasa, said his father was a very democratic figure who never patronized people.
Wednesday's service for the maestro, which was lead by Priest Fertisius Sudiono, was attended by a number of diverse figures associated with Bagong. Senior cartoonist GM Sudharta, painter Djoko Pekik, puppeteer Anom Suroto, choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo, stage artist Marsidah were among those paying their the last respects to Bagong.
Yogyakarta Sultana GKR Hemas and top local officials also attended the funeral.
"As an artist he was very sociable and could get along with people from all walks of life. He impressed me so much. He frequently asked me to hunt for bakmi godog (boiled noodles)," Pekik reminisced.
Playwright Heru Kesawa Murti recalled that he was once given a pair of shoes as a reward for writing good scripts.
"I still have the shoes," Heru said.
Other artists saw Bagong as a serious and highly disciplined person. His last healthy days were spent mostly painting and taking care of his dogs.
To Bagong's family, his death was his last creation as he had arranged everything for his departure from this world.
"A few days ago he summoned us (his children) and relatives to talk about his wishes. He wanted us to prepare Mega Mendung and Ayak-Ayak Tlutur songs to be played at his funeral. He had prepared his gravestone, the coffin and the place where he wanted to be buried in 1998," Butet said.
Bagong was buried in the family cemetery in nearby Sembungan village.
"The way he arranged his funeral down to every detail was his last creation. It's magnificent," Butet said.