Nostalgia, they say, is like chocolate: It can be sweet and bitter at the same time, filling you with memories that made you happy, that meant something in the past, that maybe you can’t get back. As we all know, music is a trigger of nostalgia, big time.

Who better to serve chocolate if not the Belgians? With music, maar natuurlijk!

On Aug. 18, kicking off celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Indonesian and Belgian relations, the Belgian embassy served up a unique concert combining Indonesian and Belgian ingredients.

Entitled “Senandung Tanah Airku” (Songs of the Motherland), the performers were Gilbert De Greeve and 28 young Indonesian musicians.

De Greeve is a concert pianist and teacher who has performed and taught in several countries. He came to Indonesia the first time in 2015 and was exposed to Indonesian folk songs. He was so inspired, he arranged several pieces and Musik Maestro had them published in four volumes: Senandung Tanah Airku volumes 1 to 3 for young musicians, and 10 Concert Pieces for more advanced pianists.

Musik Maestro, in collaboration with Musicmind, a music event organizer focusing on music education, then organized the “Senandung Challenge” whereby young Indonesian pianists competed to perform the folk songs arranged by De Greeve. Fifty-eight participated and 28 of the best were selected to perform at the Gala Concert at the Erasmus Huis cultural center in Jakarta.

Lullaby: Twelve-year-old Madelyn Subianto performs "Soleram", a lullaby from Riau Island, during the concert in Jakarta.

The first pianist was Nada Dimov, who performed “Bungong Jeumpa” (Magnolia Champaca), a folk song from Aceh. She was six, the youngest performer, looking so tiny and sweet on the stage, the piano towering over her. Her appearance drew “aaaahs” from the audience, taken in by her cuteness. Such a clever way to hook the audience in!

Not that it was hard thing to do. As song after song was performed, I sat in the dark auditorium captivated, filled with nostalgia, transported into the past –  a wonderful heart-warming feeling.

“Naik-naik ke Puncak Gunung“ (Let’s go, let’s go up the mountainside),  “Soleram” (a lullaby from Riau Island), “Yamko Rambe Yamko” (a patriotic song from Papua), “Si Patokaan” (from North Sulawesi about a mother sending off her son out into the world), “Madedek Magambiri” (from North Sumatra, about the love of a mother for her child), “Cik cik Periuk” (from West Kalimantan, a critique of outsiders who create a negative impact on the village), “Cublak-cublak Suweng” (from East Java, about true life treasures, which are not material in nature) and others.

These were all songs I knew and sang in my childhood and teenage years. Amazingly, I still remembered the lyrics and softly sang along. I found out later from De Greeve that he heard others in the audience doing the same.

Then, in the middle of the concert, I was suddenly struck by the idea: These songs are another expression of our national slogan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). We are all from different ethnic groups and regions, yet we know and love songs from other regions far away from us. As a diplomat’s daughter, I also sang these songs abroad with other kids of Indonesian diplomats to foreign audiences.

Listen up: Six-year-old Nada Dimov gets ready to perform “Bungong Jeumpa” (Magnolia Champaca), a folk song from Aceh.

Nationalism through music! But it’s an inclusive nationalism that reaches out, connects and expands our horizons.

De Greeve pointed out that these folk songs can be used to teach music. The songs in the books have different levels of difficulty and sophistication, some simple enough to be performed by small children, while others require a greater mastery.

One such piece, “Scherzo inspired by ‘O Nina Noi’” was performed by Jessica Suandrianna, 26, who De Greeve says is an exceptionally talented musician.

Jessica has been studying at the Baylor University School of Music in Texas, USA and was recently awarded a Graduate Assistantship – a full scholarship for an additional year.

De Greve said that Indonesians are gifted musically and can shine on the world stage. For child prodigy pianist Joey Alexander, 16, violinist Iskandar Widjaja, 33, and pianist Ananda Sukarlan, 51, indeed, the world is their oyster.

Indonesian choir groups such as the Batavia Madrigal Singers, the Archipelago Singers, the Resonanz Children’s Choir, to mention a few, are some of the many who have won first prices at international competitions abroad.

Nostalgia is not just about the past; it also provides a sense of belonging and a bridge to the future. In this case, it’s a future when continuing to sing our folk songs symbolizes our pluralism, which is at the heart of Indonesia’s nationalism, as well as its internationalism.

— Photos courtesy of Registry