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Govt rerecords 'Indonesia Raya’
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Reissued: Musicians from from the Gita Bahana Nusantara orchestra led by senior musician Purwacaraka perform 'Indonesia Raya', the national anthem, at Lokananta Studio in Surakarta, Central Java, on May 18. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
T
he Education and Culture Ministry has rerecorded Indonesia’s national anthem Indonesia Raya in a standardized form because it is frequently sung in different styles.
The version was recorded at the legendary Lokananta recording studio in Surakarta, Central Java, from May 18 to 20.
“Non-standard music notes used by our musicians in performing ‘Indonesia Raya’ have led the structure of the national anthem to continuously change. Whereas a national anthem should have standard rules in terms of the song structure and ethics both in performing and listening,” said Edi Irawan, head of the art and media division of the culture directorate general at the ministry.
The recording process involved dozens of musicians from the Gita Bahana Nusantara orchestra led by senior musician Purwacaraka, who also served as conductor. Sapta Ksvara, the son of renowned nationalist composer Kusbini, was also involved in the process.
Edi said the newly recorded version would be used as a guide for all public and private institutions in performing Indonesia Raya. The idea of recording the national anthem emerged during the Celebrating Indonesia Raya event on Oct. 30.
“Lokananta was selected because the recording studio was a bridge we could use to trace the original version of ‘Indonesia Raya’.”
Established in 1956, Lokananta is the first recording studio in Indonesia. The original version of Indonesia Raya, which comprises three stanzas and was recorded by Josef Kleber, and the submaster of Indonesia’s proclamation of independence are both kept in the studio. (ebf)
