TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Dian HP for the love of children

Dian HP has made a name for herself as a music arranger and illustrator

Triwik Kurniasari (The Jakarta Post)
JAKARTA
Sun, January 17, 2010

Share This Article

Change Size

Dian HP for the love of children

D

ian HP has made a name for herself as a music arranger and illustrator. But even with an exciting new musical project on the go, this 44-year-old still has time to share the joy of music with children with Down syndrome.

At the age of two, Dian Hadipranowo, known as Dian HP, liked to have meals near the piano in her parent's home so she could tap away at the piano keys, trying to play songs.

And she really enjoyed the soothing sounds of the piano. She would refuse to eat if she was not around the instrument.

Since then, music has always been a part of Dian's life, and she became increasingly involved with music while she was in elementary school in Germany.

"The head of the school always encouraged us to play music. I later began learning how to play the piano," she said.

Dian had an opportunity to learn piano from several accomplished pianists, including Her Schneider and Frau Gudrun at the Bad Godesberg Music Schule, both in Bonn.

Her father, who was a diplomat, often took Dian to concerts, plays and other art performances abroad.

When she returned to Indonesia at the end of 1970s, Dian enrolled in the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) to continue learning piano, while teaching jazz to musician Indra Lesmana.

Being a diplomat's daughter did not mean she found it easy to pave her way in the music industry.

Dian claims she worked hard, earning money by singing, from one place to the next.

"I wanted to show my parents I was serious in the business, and that I could survive with this," Dian said, adding that she began earning money from music in 1984.

All her hard work finally paid off. Dian received more and more chances to perform on stage, sometimes collaborating with prominent local musicians - from Fariz RM, Jimmy Manoppo and Dian Pramana Poetra to Guruh Soekarno putra and Titiek Puspa.

Dian also worked with some local singers - from young singer Tasya to seniors such as Ruth Sa-hanaya.

Throughout her career, many filmmakers have requested Dian compose original scores and original motion picture soundtracks for their films and sinetron (soap opera).

She was nominated for the Best Music Arranger for her work in movies including Ramadhan Ramona, Rini Tomboy, Mirror, Denias: Senandung di Atas Awan (Denias: A Hum Above the Clouds) and Liburan Seru (Fun Holiday).

Dian was also awarded the Best Music Arranger for her creation in Love is Cinta, a drama film directed by Hanny R. Saputra.

Dian is currently gearing up for the next big thing in 2010: Gita Cinta (Love Hymn) the Musical. This is an adaptation of Gita Cinta dari SMA (Love Hymn From High School), the popular 1970s novel that later became a cult film starring Rano Karno and Yessy Gusman,

Why did Dian choose to remake Gita Cinta? It all began when one day she sat down with choreographer Ari Tulang and Maera Hanafiah, the executive producer of ArtSwara performing arts productions.

"We had the same mission and vision in arts. We wanted to create a special show and the idea of Gita Cinta just popped into our minds," she said.

Gita Cinta is a love story, between Galih and Ratna, two of the brightest students at a high school. Their romance, however, does not run smoothly, because Ratna's father is strictly against their relationship. He tries to separate the young couple, including by setting up a marriage for Ratna.

Dian admits that Gita Cinta was one of her favorite movies of all time.

"I watched the movie six times! Rano was really handsome and cool. He and Yessi were the best on-screen couple," she said, giggling.

Being a music director in a musical drama is not a new thing for Dian. Previously she has been in charge of several projects including the musical drama Mahadaya Cinta (The Power of Love) with Guruh Soekarno Putra Productions in 2005 and Kupu-kupu (Butterfly): A Tribute to Titiek Puspa in 2006, followed by Portrait Management, a musical drama, one year later.

Unlike her previous musical projects, Gita Cinta is Dian's first-ever 100 percent musical drama, a dancing and singing show.

For this show, Dian and the team held a series of auditions, spending six days recruiting a number actors and actresses from around 500 applicants.

In the new version, some of the main characters, including Galih and Ratna, will have double casts as the show will be staged live in Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) three days in a row, from March 19 to 21.

"An artist must have excellent physical fitness, as well as good vocal qualities to take part in this kind of show," Dian affirmed.

Dian hopes this show will lead other musicians to hold more drama musicals.

"There will be 40 talented artists, who can both dance and sing, performing in Gita Cinta. Could you imagine if, for instance, there were five similar shows across the city. We would have 200 new artists," she said.

Dian also hopes the show will attract not only young people but also older generations who once watched the original Gita Cinta.

"This is a good show for parents, giving them some ideas of what to do when their children get involved in romance."

Besides Gita Cinta, Dian is also busy making music with singer Trie Utami with whom she formed a band, Kumari.

"*Trie* is my pen pal. We *met' in a children's magazine about 30 years ago and since then we have become good friends," Dian said.

"We later decided to make an album together. The album is about women. We encourage all women to be strong under any circumstances."

Dian is the picture of a tough and independent woman. The way she talks pretty much reflects her character. A straight-to-the-point kind of person, she is strong and doesn't hesitate.

But Dian can also be a loving and tender person, especially when it comes to children. Dian revealed she once dreamed of being a kindergarten teacher.

"I never had a thought I would become a music illustrator. I used to want to be a kindergarten teacher because I love children," she said.

Dian turns serious when she talks about children's issues in Indonesia. She is not the kind of musician who chases fame, recognition or wealth, as she also has "room" to teach and introduce music to children.

Over the years, Dian has been involved in many children's programs and projects. Six years ago, she established a music school called Taman Musik Dian Indonesia, which was dedicated for autistic children and children with Down syndrome (DS).

Dian's interest in Down syndrome began when she was 16. "I was in Germany and my father took me to a place where I later became a volunteer for children with DS. Since then, I promised myself I had to do something to help them," Dian said.

She later found that music was good for children with DS, and that the children loved rhythm and the beat of musical instruments.

At the school, Dian said, children are taught the basics of music, such as harmony, tone, rhythm and expression.

All children are allowed to play a wonderful variety of instruments, including shakers, tambourines and drums.

"But the most important thing is that they like music. It's so amazing to see them playing," Dian said.

She is aiming to encourage many people, especially parents, to introduce children's songs to their children.

"I'm really concerned about this. We have so many children's songs created by great song writers like Bu Kasur, Pak Kasur and AT Mahmud. But if we did not popularize them, how people would know them?" she said.

"Please, think about the children. They should have songs which fit their ages and souls. I feel sad every time I hear a kid singing an adult love song," she said.

Dian has also often written children's songs. She created songs and produced Tasya's album titled Istana Pizza (Pizza Palace) for which she was awarded for the Best Song Writer and the Best Producer for a Children's Album.

Dian still has one dream left to fulfill: to stage a special show for children.

"During the school holidays, all we can see is Western shows and films such as Barbie, Barney and Transformers. There are no local shows at all," she said.

Dian is urging local event organizers to provide local shows for children.

"If people said it's difficult to find sponsors for these events, it would be a big lie. Take a look at your local TV and you will see there are many companies that sell children's products, like formula milk, drinks and food."

Parents, she said, also play a big role in the development of the music industry.

"Let your children express themselves. I see many parents here are afraid to enroll their students in music schools," she said.

"It would be better if you let your children spend time in a music studio than hanging out in a mall."

Dian really seemed excited and lively when she was talking about her work, but when Sunday Post asked her about her activities during her spare time, it was a different story.

"Well...What do I do in my spare time? Hmmm..." She paused, rolling her eyes, thinking hard.

"I have no life, you know. My life revolves around work, work and work. I only feel like I have a life when I'm sleeping," she giggled.

Biography

Full name: Dian Hadipranowo

Place & Date of Birth: Tunis, Aug. 2, 1965

Shows:

Musical Mahadaya Cinta or The Power of Love (2005)

Musical Kupu-kupu or Butterfly (2006)

Musical Portrait Management (2007)

The 70th Concert of Titiek Puspa: A Tribute to Legend Diva (2007)

New Year's Eve Concert Di3va (2007)

TV program Mamamia (2007)

TV program Stardust (2007)

TV program Super Mama (2007)

Achievements :

Best Music Arranger for sinetron (soap opera) Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan (Down Memory Lane) at the Indonesia Sinetron Festival 1997.

Best Children's Song Writer and Best Producer for Tasya's album Istana Pizza (Pizza Palace) in 2003.

Best Music Arranger for Love is Cinta (2007).

Nominated for Best Music Arranger for Ramadhan Ramona (1992), Rini Tomboy (1992), Mirror (2005), Denias: Senandung di Atas Awan or Denias: A Hum Above the Clouds (2006) and Liburan Seru or Fun Holiday (2007).

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank you

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.