THE COMPOSER'S GARDEN OF LOVE

W.R.Soepratman performed the song Indonesia RAya at the 2nd Youth Congress to great applause.But the song Matahari Terbit saw him interned in Kalisosok jail.His life was devoid of love.

SUNDAY,october 28,1928.A slightly-built young man hurried to approach session chairman Soegondo Djojopoespito.Carrying a violin,he held up a sheet of paper containing lyrics of a song he had composed.

Catching sight of the song's title,Raya Indonesia,Soegondo,s eyes quickly stole a glance at the Dutch police commissioner who was seriously monitoring the congress progress.That day was the second of the 2nd Youth Congress at the Indonische Clubgebouw building on jl.Kramat Raya No.106 in Jakarta.During a break in the session,Soegondo nodded his approval and allowed the young man to demonstrate his work,but without the words to the song.The Indonesia Raya was concerned that the extensive use of the words"Indonesia"and"freedom"in the song's lyrics would cause problems.

The evening was growing late and the session was quickly closed.At 10pm or just after,the young man named W.R.Soepratman stepped forward.He bent his body and began to play his violin.The music ended with a long round of applause."Encore,encore,encore,again,again..."shouted the audience.

W.R.Soepratman was known as a journalist who liked to play music and socialize with young people at the headquarters of the Indonesia Student and Youth Association on Kramat Raya 106.To this Day,people have different opinions as to where he was born.Some believe that Soepratman,the seventh of eight children,was born in the village of Somongari,Kaligesing,Porworejo,Central java.Others were sure that he was born in Mester,Jatinegara,East Jakarta,in1903.