Every year on March 9th, Indonesia celebrates National Music Day. National Music Day is celebrated to express the Indonesian people’s enthusiasm for music. The establishment of March 9th as the National Music Day turns out to have a history. The celebration of this National Music Day starts from 2013 until now. For more, let’s look at the history of music day in Indonesia.
The day of birth of W.R. Supratman, a great Indonesian composer and creator of the national anthem “Indonesia Raya,” on March 9, was chosen as the National Music Day. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who served as the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time, set March 9th as the National Music Day because at that time there were several parties who said that W.R. Supratman was born on March 9, 1903.
This is stated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) no. 10 of 2013 which states that music is a universal and multidimensional cultural expression that represents noble human values and has a strategic role in national development.
Read also Jevin Julian Anthem to Boost Our Confidence, “Pompara’e”
National Music Day is also set to increase public appreciation of Indonesian music, increase self-confidence and motivation of Indonesian musicians, as well as to increase achievements that are able to elevate the status of Indonesian music nationally, regionally and internationally.
However, there was debate because it turned out that W.R. Supratman was born on March 19, 1903. This was based on the Purworejo District Court Decision No. 04/Pdt/P/2007/PN PWR on 29 March 2007. This court decision was approved by the W. R. Supratman family.
Even so, the meaning of National Music Day aims to be a symbol of the revival of national and regional music. The hope is that with this National Music Day, people can appreciate and love more about Indonesian music creation.
Source: Detik.com
