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Jakarta Post

Finding peace through Dan Forrest's tunes

Beautiful music composed by acclaimed American composer Dan Forrest resonates during the 20th anniversary of the choral group Jakarta Festival Chorus.

A. Kurniawan Ulung (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, August 8, 2017

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Finding peace through Dan Forrest's tunes Raising voices: Jakarta Festival Chorus performs Requiem for the Living by renowned American composer Dan Forrest during its 20th anniversary concert. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung)

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onductor Ndaru Darsono is a big fan of Dan Forrest. He loves his music and always finds peace when listening to the composer’s works. 

For example, Ndaru says that he runs out of patience every time his car becomes trapped in Jakarta’s dreadful traffic congestion, but he immediately feels at ease when he turns on Forrest’s choral, instrumental and orchestral works. 

Ndaru, who has been the composer of the Jakarta Festival Chorus (JFC) since 2001, had dreamed of playing Forrest’s music in a concert. On Saturday, he was over the moon as he could realize his dream at the Kristus Yesus Jemaat Church in Pluit, North Jakarta, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of JFC.

“Dan Forrest is a true Christian, who is faithful to God. His faith is always implied in his songs,” the 44-year-old Ndaru said.

Born in 1978, Forrest is known for his superb choral compositions. Since the first release of his works in 2001, he has sold 2 million copies of his music and has become established in the repertoire of choirs around the world.

Forrest, who holds a doctoral degree in composition from the University of Kansas, has won numerous awards and distinctions, such as the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer’s Award, the ACDA Raymond Brock Award and the ALCM Raabe Prize.  

Under the baton of Ndaru, JFC belted out 15 Forrest-arranged songs in the 120-minute tribute concert, during which eight musicians also took part. 

With warmth and finesse, the 40-member choir, comprising 10 sopranos, nine alto, 14 tenor and seven bass, opened the concert with the song Here is Love by William Rees. Before performing Requiem for the Living by Forrest, they sang Christian hymn Holy, Holy, Holy! by Reginald Heber.  

Having been meticulously prepared for seven months, the concert mesmerized the more than 75 people sitting in the pews.

According to Ndaru, Requiem for the Living is Forrest’s best-known work, which has been performed worldwide since its 2013 premiere. His new work, Jubilate Deo, has also received similar critical acclaim.  

“I believe we are the first to play Requiem for the Living in Jakarta. It does not aim to pray for the dead but to the living – those who face a lot of problems and those who are so busy that they do not have time to rest,” he said.    

Ndaru recalled that when conducting, he wept because the songs touched him.

Conductor: Ndaru Darsono, the man behind Jakarta Festival Chorus' recent performance of American composer Dan Forrest's compositions.
Conductor: Ndaru Darsono, the man behind Jakarta Festival Chorus' recent performance of American composer Dan Forrest's compositions. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung)

“When I heard, ‘Come unto Me, all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest,’ I cried before Him,” he said.   

He had invited Forrest to his concert, but Forrest’s tight schedule did not enable him to attend.

“He is very friendly. He told me that he was not a conductor. If he came, he would just explain his compositions,” Ndaru said.

Despite being absent from the concert, Forrest expressed his gratitude through email. 

“It is my privilege and honor and have my music performed by the Jakarta Festival Chorus. I’m always amazed that the musical sounds I dream up could travel across my country, let alone to the other side of the world. Thank you for representing my music in Jakarta,” he said in a statement. 

Founded by Indra Lazuardi and evangelical and inter-denominational seminary Singapore Bible College professor Lee Chong Min in 1997, the JFC has a mission to promote the quality of church music in Indonesia through its regular concerts.

Before Forrest, the group, which currently has 42 members aged 25 from 78, performed works of other great musicians, such as Elijah by German composer Felix Mandelssohn and The Creation by Austrian composer Joseph Haydn.

Having held more than18 concerts over 20 years at home and abroad does not make JFC interested in singing competitions.

“I am not here to do that [participate in competitions]. I believe that God has given me this responsibility to help talented people who like to sing but don’t know where to go,” he said.

“We are here to introduce beautiful church music to all mankind. But we are not a church choir. We are a choral group that worships God through our musical performances,” he added.    

For Ndaru, who is a teacher at Gloriamus Music School in West Jakarta, church music contains universal values for the betterment of all mankind regardless of race, ethnicity and religion.  

Believing that music has the power to unite people, he plans to make an album of national songs.

“We must thank God for giving us a country named Indonesia,” he smiled.

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