Ismail Marzuki
Encyclopedia
Ismail Marzuki was an Indonesia
n composer, songwriter and musician who wrote between 202 and 240 songs between 1931 and 1958, including numerous popular patriotic songs. Among his best known works are "Gugur Bunga
" and "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa
". In 1968, he was honoured with the creation of Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta. In 2004 he was declared one of the National Heroes of Indonesia.
to a wealthy Betawi family. His father Marzuki owned an automobile repair shop
, and played the rebana
; his mother died while giving birth
to him. From a young age Marzuki enjoyed music, listening to songs repeatedly on the family's gramophone
and learning to play the rebana, ukelele, and guitar.
Marzuki studied at an elementary school for Native Indonesians, Hollandsch-Inlandsche School Idenburg Menteng
; he later attended the Dutch-language middle school
Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs on Menjangan Street in Jakarta. He became fluent in Indonesian
, English, and Dutch. He also studied religion at Unwanul Wustha Madrasah
. However, he did not study music formally, instead learning by himself.
In 1931, Marzuki wrote his first song, "O Sarinah", which was about a suffering people. During his career he wrote between 202 and 204 songs. Among his most famous compositions are "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa" (1944, Solace on Coconut Island), "Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti
" (1945, The Fallen Flower in Bakti Garden), and "Selendang Sutera" (1946, A Coil of Silk).
Marzuki started his music career by joining the Lief Java orchestra, under the direction of Hugo Dumas. In 1934 he became a broadcaster with Nederlandsch-Indische Radio Omroep Maatschappij, the national radio station of the Dutch East Indies
, and afterwards led the Jakarta Studio Orchestra, the Bandung Studio Orchestra, and later the Hoso Kanri Kyoku orchestra during Japanese occupation of Indonesia
.
In 1957 Marzuki wrote his last song, "Inikah Bahagia" (Is This Happiness). He died at 14:00 on 25 May 1958 in his house in Tanah Abang
, Jakarta. He is buried in Karet Bivak Cemetery
.
. The scales
are generally mid-range, making the songs easier to sing.
, in 1931 Their marriage has been considered his song "Panon Hideung".
Marzuki enjoyed collecting musical instruments. His collection included guitars, mandolins, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, accordions, and a piano.
He was known for being fiercely nationalistic, once selling gado-gado
with his wife instead of cooperate with the Dutch-allied Nederlandsch Indië Civil Administratie during the Indonesian National Revolution. However, he also had a romantic side, writing songs like "Kalau Anggrek Berbunga" (c.
1942–1945, When the Orchid Blossoms), "Jauh di Mata Di Hati Jangan" (1947, Far from the Eyes (But Not the Heart) and "Siasat Asmara" (1948, Love's Tactics).
A large number of Marzuki's songs have been rerecorded and released in different genres, including pop music and keroncong, such as"Kr. Pasar Gambir dan Stambul Anak Jampang" (Kroncong of Gambir Market and Stambul of the Cowlicked Child) which was covered by Chrisye
on the album Dekade
with arrangement by Erwin Gutawa
. Several of his songs, including "Gugur Bunga", "Melati di Tapal Batas", "Selendang Sutra", "Pahlawan Muda", "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa", and "Waktu Malam", are considered compulsory and taught in schools.
On 17 August 1961 Marzuki received the first Wijaya Kusuma award from President Suharto. He was honoured posthumously in 1968 with the opening of Taman Ismail Marzuki
, a cultural centre and park in central Jakarta. He was recognized as a National Hero of Indonesia in November 2004 by declaration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n composer, songwriter and musician who wrote between 202 and 240 songs between 1931 and 1958, including numerous popular patriotic songs. Among his best known works are "Gugur Bunga
Gugur Bunga
"Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti" , better known as "Gugur Bunga", is an Indonesian patriotic song written by Ismail Marzuki in 1945. Written to honor the Indonesian soldiers killed during the Indonesian National Revolution, it tells of the death of a soldier, and the singer's feelings...
" and "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa
Rayuan Pulau Kelapa
Rayuan Pulau Kelapa is an Indonesian song written by Ismail Marzuki , who wrote a number of popular tunes in the country's early post-independence period...
". In 1968, he was honoured with the creation of Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta. In 2004 he was declared one of the National Heroes of Indonesia.
Biography
Marzuki was born in Kwitang, JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
to a wealthy Betawi family. His father Marzuki owned an automobile repair shop
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
, and played the rebana
Rebana
Rebana is a Malay tambourine that is used in Islamic devotional music in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The sound of Rebana often accompany Islamic ritual such as the zikir. The name Rebana came from the Arabic word Robbana meaning "our God".-Rebana in...
; his mother died while giving birth
Maternal death
Maternal death, or maternal mortality, also "obstetrical death" is the death of a woman during or shortly after a pregnancy. In 2010, researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, estimated global maternal mortality in 2008 at 342,900 , of...
to him. From a young age Marzuki enjoyed music, listening to songs repeatedly on the family's gramophone
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
and learning to play the rebana, ukelele, and guitar.
Marzuki studied at an elementary school for Native Indonesians, Hollandsch-Inlandsche School Idenburg Menteng
Menteng
Menteng is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, one of the administrative city which forms the special capital territory of Jakarta, Indonesia.The subdistrict is best known as the location of the Menteng residential area, a new urban design developed in the 1910s to become a residential area for Dutch...
; he later attended the Dutch-language middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs on Menjangan Street in Jakarta. He became fluent in Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, English, and Dutch. He also studied religion at Unwanul Wustha Madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
. However, he did not study music formally, instead learning by himself.
In 1931, Marzuki wrote his first song, "O Sarinah", which was about a suffering people. During his career he wrote between 202 and 204 songs. Among his most famous compositions are "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa" (1944, Solace on Coconut Island), "Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti
Gugur Bunga
"Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti" , better known as "Gugur Bunga", is an Indonesian patriotic song written by Ismail Marzuki in 1945. Written to honor the Indonesian soldiers killed during the Indonesian National Revolution, it tells of the death of a soldier, and the singer's feelings...
" (1945, The Fallen Flower in Bakti Garden), and "Selendang Sutera" (1946, A Coil of Silk).
Marzuki started his music career by joining the Lief Java orchestra, under the direction of Hugo Dumas. In 1934 he became a broadcaster with Nederlandsch-Indische Radio Omroep Maatschappij, the national radio station of the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, and afterwards led the Jakarta Studio Orchestra, the Bandung Studio Orchestra, and later the Hoso Kanri Kyoku orchestra during Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
.
In 1957 Marzuki wrote his last song, "Inikah Bahagia" (Is This Happiness). He died at 14:00 on 25 May 1958 in his house in Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The subdistrict hosts the biggest textile market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market...
, Jakarta. He is buried in Karet Bivak Cemetery
Karet Bivak Cemetery
Karet Bivak is a cemetery in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the second largest in the city.-Description:Karet Bivak is located in Central Jakarta, Jakarta. It covers an area of , making it the second-largest cemetery in Jakarta. In 2007 it contained approximately 48,000 graves...
.
Style
Marzuki's anthems are full of patriotism and love for Indonesia, with a spirit of unity and harmony. They are easy to remember, with simple lyrics and melodiesMelody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. The scales
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
are generally mid-range, making the songs easier to sing.
Personal life
Marzuki married Eulis Zuraidah, a keroncong singer and orchestra leader from BandungBandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
, in 1931 Their marriage has been considered his song "Panon Hideung".
Marzuki enjoyed collecting musical instruments. His collection included guitars, mandolins, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, accordions, and a piano.
He was known for being fiercely nationalistic, once selling gado-gado
Gado-gado
Gado-gado , also called Lotek for its cooked version - differed from lotek atah or karedok for its fresh and raw version of the vegetable covered with peanut sauce and pecel is an Indonesian dish comprising a vegetable salad served with a peanut sauce dressing...
with his wife instead of cooperate with the Dutch-allied Nederlandsch Indië Civil Administratie during the Indonesian National Revolution. However, he also had a romantic side, writing songs like "Kalau Anggrek Berbunga" (c.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1942–1945, When the Orchid Blossoms), "Jauh di Mata Di Hati Jangan" (1947, Far from the Eyes (But Not the Heart) and "Siasat Asmara" (1948, Love's Tactics).
Legacy
Marzuki has been described as "having good instincts for music", as well as a "genius" and "legendary".A large number of Marzuki's songs have been rerecorded and released in different genres, including pop music and keroncong, such as"Kr. Pasar Gambir dan Stambul Anak Jampang" (Kroncong of Gambir Market and Stambul of the Cowlicked Child) which was covered by Chrisye
Chrisye
Chrismansyah Rahadi , better known by his stage name Chrisye , was an Indonesian progressive-pop singer and song writer of mixed Chinese-Indonesian descent. He was born in Jakarta on 16 September 1949, and died there on 30 March 2007 following a long battle with lung cancer. He recorded 21 solo...
on the album Dekade
Dekade
Dekade is a 2004 Indonesian pop album published by Musica Studios and Chrisye's nineteenth studio album. It is also his only cover album.-Creation:The idea for Dekade came when Chrisye thought about previously popular songs that were later forgotten...
with arrangement by Erwin Gutawa
Erwin Gutawa
Erwin Gutawa is an Indonesian composer and father of Gita Gutawa. In 1985, he started his professional music career by joining the jazz band Karimata, later becoming an independent composer in 1991. As a composer, he won the 1992 Midnight Sun Song Festival in Finland together with Ruth Sahanaya...
. Several of his songs, including "Gugur Bunga", "Melati di Tapal Batas", "Selendang Sutra", "Pahlawan Muda", "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa", and "Waktu Malam", are considered compulsory and taught in schools.
On 17 August 1961 Marzuki received the first Wijaya Kusuma award from President Suharto. He was honoured posthumously in 1968 with the opening of Taman Ismail Marzuki
Taman Ismail Marzuki
Pusat Kesenian Jakarta Taman Ismail Marzuki or popularly known as Taman Ismail Marzuki is an art and cultural center located in jalan Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Also within this complex stood Jakarta Art Institute and Jakarta Planetarium...
, a cultural centre and park in central Jakarta. He was recognized as a National Hero of Indonesia in November 2004 by declaration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
.
Lists of composed songs
- Aryati
- Gugur BungaGugur Bunga"Gugur Bunga di Taman Bakti" , better known as "Gugur Bunga", is an Indonesian patriotic song written by Ismail Marzuki in 1945. Written to honor the Indonesian soldiers killed during the Indonesian National Revolution, it tells of the death of a soldier, and the singer's feelings...
- Melati di Tapal Batas (1947)
- WanitaWanita"Juanita" is a song made popular by Al Jolson. Written by Tin Pan Alley songwriters, Al Sherman and Sam Coslow, it was their first hit song. The song is about a man who is love with a girl who only wants to eat, thereby eating the singer out of house and home.The song is alternatively titled,...
- Rayuan Pulau KelapaRayuan Pulau KelapaRayuan Pulau Kelapa is an Indonesian song written by Ismail Marzuki , who wrote a number of popular tunes in the country's early post-independence period...
- Sepasang Mata Bola (1946)
- Bandung Selatan di Waktu Malam (1948)
- O Sarinah (1931)
- Keroncong Serenata
- Kasim Baba
- Bandaneira
- Lenggang Bandung
- Sampul Surat
- Karangan Bunga dari Selatan
- Selamat Datang Pahlawan Muda (1949)
- Juwita Malam
- Sabda AlamSabda AlamSabda Alam is a 1978 Indonesian album released by Musica Studios. It is Chrisye's second studio album and his first after signing with Musica. The album was written in collaboration with Guruh Sukarnoputra...
- Roselani
- Rindu Lukisan
- Indonesia PusakaIndonesia PusakaIndonesia Pusaka is a patriotic song composed by Ismail Marzuki. It is normally played on Indonesian Independence Day celebration....