The Song of the Indonesian Nation

National Music Day on March 9 was born as an appreciation for the birth of Wage Rudolf Supratman as the creator of the national anthem Indonesia Raya. The process of creating the national anthem Indonesia Raya is in line with the process of establishing Indonesia as a nation. The long struggle towards Indonesian independence reached its final chapter during the Japanese occupation. The lyrics contained in the national anthem are a form of a prayer, hope, and aspiration for the country and the Indonesian nation to endure throughout time. The lyrics of a song can become the spirit that awakens the feelings of anyone who hears it. A line from Indonesia Raya, namely “awaken its soul, awaken its body for Indonesia Raya,” can be interpreted as the notion that the lyrics of the song can serve as an inspiration for those who listen.

Music, in this case, songs, sometimes begin with ideas inspired by aspirations, hopes, and responses to surrounding conditions that one wishes to share or convey to the listeners. These ideas and concepts are poured into a meaningful string of words, namely the lyrics of the song. Meaningful words that are crafted into a script become the basis for moving to the next stage, which is creating the musical arrangement. The script of Indonesia Raya was created from the same conditions when the songwriter wanted to convey his intentions and purposes, which of course began with a critical creative process. A creative process in reading the times.

The song ‘Indonesia Raya’ originally was a struggle song that was later elevated to become the national anthem and is also referred to as functional music. The ceremonial function is emphasized more than its aesthetic value, meaning that ceremonially it does not always have to meet the requirements of perfect musical composition techniques like symphonic music. Experts in mass psychology say that no matter how weak the national anthem is in terms of musical composition, its appeal can ignite the spirit, especially the meaning contained in the lyrics of the song (Yoesoep in Mintargo, 2012).

In the context of national history, the selection of the song Indonesia Raya as National Music Day is not without purpose. This creation takes the perspective of an Indonesian person who provides a depiction of Indonesian-ness through a song. Indonesia, which had not yet been born and was still called the Dutch East Indies, was the main source of the creations of Indonesian works carried out by the indigenous people at that time. Indonesian history from the perspective of Indonesians can closely observe their homeland without the intervention of colonial government policies.

The song Indonesia Raya as the national anthem has certainly become a necessity in every era. If before independence the song Indonesia Raya served as a form of identity, during the proclamation of independence as a symbol of resistance, then the symbols in each generation will differ in accordance with the conditions of national life and statehood thereafter. One of the grand rituals that must not be omitted is singing the song ‘Indonesia Raya’ which has been agreed upon to foster the spirit of nationalism. This national anthem has witnessed the historical series of events in the nation's journey from time to time until the change of leadership and the birth of generations that continue to change.

If we look at the process of creating the song Indonesia Raya as the first official song according to the mindset of Indonesians, then now and in the future, the national identity that has been built since Indonesia's independence will certainly produce musical works that reflect the latest forms of Indonesian humanity and nation. Our national anthem will always be the foundation of nationhood and statehood and will give rise to songs created by the people of Indonesia as the final result of the hopes and aspirations of the ancestors who have awakened the soul and body of the independent Indonesian nation.

References

Mintargo, Wisnu. 2012. Continuity and Change in the Meaning of the National Anthem Indonesia Raya. Kawistara Journal Volume 2 No. 3, December 22, 2012. Gadjah Mada University.