Jozef Cleber
Encyclopedia
Jozef Cleber also known as Jos Cleber or Jozef van Cleber, was a Dutch
composer and conductor. He worked in the Netherlands, South-Africa and the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia. He wrote numerous arrangements (amongst others to Heel de wereld
, the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest entry in 1958
) and conducted De Zaaiers, one of the orchestras of Dutch radio, until he left for South Africa in 1962. However, he is best known for orchestrating the Indonesia
n national anthem
Indonesia Raya
.
After graduating from junior high school, he entered the music school (muzieklyceum), and continued to study violin and piano. He also studied jazz, and admired Duke Elington, and advised to study the saxophone and clarinet, but he preferred to study the trombone (the mouthpiece fit his lips).
He started to play with local orchestra since he was 15 years old as violist. He also play with Paul Godwin as trombonist. During the World War II, he played in the Zurich Orchestra. After World War II ended, he returned to the Netherlands. Then he joint the Metropole Orchestra
under direction of Dolf van der Linden
as trombonist, as well as arranger. After that he played as trombonist in the Concertgebouw-Orkest in Amsterdam. He also studied directie, harmony and counterpoint from Dutch composer Kees van Baaren
in Amstredam.
He became a musician in the style of Mantovani
. He traveled to Indonesia in June 1948 and founded the "Cosmopolitan Orchestra" for Radio Batavia, composed of 40 musicians of many different nationalities. At that time Cleber arranged many Indonesian songs for orchestra, such as "Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama" and "Rangkaian Melati."
), requested that Cleber arrange Indonesia Raya for philharmonic orchestra, upon which Cleber began a preliminary study on the history and actual impression the anthem intended to convey, and concluded that he sensed a Marseillaise impression in Indonesia Raya. Cleber's first arrangement was subsequently recorded in RRI Studio, Central Jakarta
, in early 1951, involving Cleber's orchestra and two other RRI orchestras. The initial response to the orchestration was warm and Cleber joined Ronodipuro to present the recording to President Sukarno
. However, upon hearing it, Sukarno commented that the arrangement was too embellished.
Sukarno wanted Indonesia Raya to be as majestic as the Netherlands' national anthem, Wilhelmus
. Wilhelmus has a slow tempo (largo
), whereas Indonesia Raya was intended to have a march tempo (Tempo di marcia
), which led to Cleber's initial disagreement with the president over the orchestration. He began to work on the second arrangement, and the tempo was changed to Maestoso con bravura, ("majestically and with bravura"). Sukarno liked the second arrangement better; however he thought that there should be a part in the anthem that expresses beauty, softness, and sweetness, just prior to the climactic refrain.
In the third arrangement, Cleber modified the verses right before the chorus to employ the string section, whereas the chorus itself was accompanied by the timpani, cymbal, and brass section. Sukarno considered this arrangement perfect and approved it.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
composer and conductor. He worked in the Netherlands, South-Africa and the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia. He wrote numerous arrangements (amongst others to Heel de wereld
Heel De Wereld
"Heel de wereld" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1958, performed in Dutch by Corry Brokken. This was Brokken's third consecutive appearance on the Eurovision stage and it would be her last as a performer....
, the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest entry in 1958
Eurovision Song Contest 1958
The Eurovision Song Contest 1958 was the third Eurovision Song Contest. The convention that the winning country from a year hosted the following year's contest was introduced in this year. France's win was their first. It was the last time to date that the United Kingdom did not enter the contest...
) and conducted De Zaaiers, one of the orchestras of Dutch radio, until he left for South Africa in 1962. However, he is best known for orchestrating the Indonesia
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 national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
Indonesia Raya
Indonesia Raya
"Indonesia Raya" is the national anthem of the Republic of Indonesia. The song was introduced by its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman, on 28 October 1928 during the Second Indonesian Youth Congress in Batavia...
.
Background
Cleber was born in Maastricht the son of Gerardus Josephus Cleber, an organist and choir conductor, and Anna Maria Bastian. His family was Catholic. He studied music with his father (piano). Married on February 8, 1939 with Elisa Magdelijns (1917–2007). From this marriage was born a daughter (Yvonne Charlotte). After divorcing on September 25, 1951, he married on December 12, 1951 (in Jakarta) with Johanna Dirkje de Bruijn (b. 1923), a cabaretière. From this marriage was born a daughter (Karian).After graduating from junior high school, he entered the music school (muzieklyceum), and continued to study violin and piano. He also studied jazz, and admired Duke Elington, and advised to study the saxophone and clarinet, but he preferred to study the trombone (the mouthpiece fit his lips).
He started to play with local orchestra since he was 15 years old as violist. He also play with Paul Godwin as trombonist. During the World War II, he played in the Zurich Orchestra. After World War II ended, he returned to the Netherlands. Then he joint the Metropole Orchestra
Metropole Orchestra
The Metropole Orchestra is a jazz and pop orchestra based in the Netherlands, and is the largest full time ensemble of its kind in the world. A hybrid orchestra, it is a combination of jazz big band and symphony orchestra...
under direction of Dolf van der Linden
Dolf van der Linden
David Gysbert van der Linden was a Dutch conductor of popular music with a reputation which extended beyond the borders of the Netherlands....
as trombonist, as well as arranger. After that he played as trombonist in the Concertgebouw-Orkest in Amsterdam. He also studied directie, harmony and counterpoint from Dutch composer Kees van Baaren
Kees van Baaren
Kees van Baaren was a Dutch composer and teacher.Van Baaren was born in Enschede. His early studies were in Berlin with Rudolph Breithaupt and Friedrich Koch at the Stern conservatory. After returning to the Netherlands in 1929, he studied with Willem Pijper...
in Amstredam.
He became a musician in the style of Mantovani
Mantovani
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British Hit Singles & Albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before The Beatles .....
. He traveled to Indonesia in June 1948 and founded the "Cosmopolitan Orchestra" for Radio Batavia, composed of 40 musicians of many different nationalities. At that time Cleber arranged many Indonesian songs for orchestra, such as "Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama" and "Rangkaian Melati."
Orchestration of Indonesia Raya
In 1950, Jusuf Ronodipuro (then the Studio Head of Radio Republik IndonesiaRadio Republik Indonesia
Radio Republik Indonesia is the state radio network of Indonesia. The organization is a public broadcasting service. It is a national radio station that broadcasts all over Indonesia and abroad to serve all Indonesian citizens throughout the nation and overseas. RRI also provides information about...
), requested that Cleber arrange Indonesia Raya for philharmonic orchestra, upon which Cleber began a preliminary study on the history and actual impression the anthem intended to convey, and concluded that he sensed a Marseillaise impression in Indonesia Raya. Cleber's first arrangement was subsequently recorded in RRI Studio, Central Jakarta
Central Jakarta
Central Jakarta is one of the five cities which form Jakarta, Indonesia. It had 898,883 inhabitants at the 2010 Census.Central Jakarta is the smallest in area and population of the five cities of Jakarta. It is the administrative and political center of Jakarta and Indonesia...
, in early 1951, involving Cleber's orchestra and two other RRI orchestras. The initial response to the orchestration was warm and Cleber joined Ronodipuro to present the recording to President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. However, upon hearing it, Sukarno commented that the arrangement was too embellished.
Sukarno wanted Indonesia Raya to be as majestic as the Netherlands' national anthem, Wilhelmus
Wilhelmus
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe, usually known just as the Wilhelmus , , is the national anthem of the Netherlands and is the oldest national anthem in the world though the words of the Japanese national anthem date back to the ninth century...
. Wilhelmus has a slow tempo (largo
Largo
-Music:* Largo, a very slow tempo, or a musical piece or movement in such a tempo* Handel's Largo or "Ombra mai fù", an aria from the opera Serse* Hugo Largo, American band from the 1980s* Strong and stately...
), whereas Indonesia Raya was intended to have a march tempo (Tempo di marcia
Marcia
Marcia Aurelia Ceionia Demetrias, better known as Marcia, was the mistress and one of the assassins of 2nd century AD Roman Emperor Commodus from 182–93...
), which led to Cleber's initial disagreement with the president over the orchestration. He began to work on the second arrangement, and the tempo was changed to Maestoso con bravura, ("majestically and with bravura"). Sukarno liked the second arrangement better; however he thought that there should be a part in the anthem that expresses beauty, softness, and sweetness, just prior to the climactic refrain.
In the third arrangement, Cleber modified the verses right before the chorus to employ the string section, whereas the chorus itself was accompanied by the timpani, cymbal, and brass section. Sukarno considered this arrangement perfect and approved it.