Jakarta - The beauty of a poem is often hermetically judged by the meaning it conveys and, consequently, it`s sound is considered secondary to what it represents.
Thus, according to poet Sapardi Djoko Damono, a poem can easily meet its demise.
"Many poets contemplate and strive for meaning so seriously that they forget the sound of the poem is the poetry," Sapardi, who is also a professor of literature at the University of Indonesia, said.
"A good poet must have a good ear," he added.
Sapardi`s poems are musical in themselves. It`s no surprise then that when a group of young artists told him they wanted to musicalize his poems, he was more than pleased.
"I am glad because they (the poems) have been brought back to their true habitat," he said.
Sapardi is perhaps the country`s most popular poet today, after the legendary Chairil Anwar and Taufiq Ismail. His poems are so loved that some have become ubiquitous and can be found in wedding invitations or on birthday cards.
On Feb. 14 (yes, on Valentine`s Day), a number of artists -- singers, poets and actors from different generations -- staged a performance entitled Puisi-puisi Cinta Sapardi (Sapardi`s Poetry of Love) at Graha Bhakti Budaya hall in Taman Ismail Marzuki art center, Central Jakarta.
In the show, Sapardi`s poems were musically and visually transformed into fascinating melodies and movements.
The show was opened by a theatrical performance by Teater Tanah Air, which won the gold medal in the 2004 Asia Pacific Festival of Children`s Theatre in Toyama, Japan. The talented children theatrically read aloud one of Sapardi`s poem.
The group`s performance was followed by a flute ensemble from Lab Musik Jakarta; a group of young musicians who played a song arranged by Ags. Arya Dipayana based on Sapardi`s Akulah Si Telaga (I`m a Pond).
Actress Cornelia Agatha and Ine Febriyanti were two celebrities partaking in the cultural performance -- but they were not the stars of the show. The stage belonged to Ari Malibu and Reda Gaudiamo, better known as Ari-Reda, who bewitched the audience with their evocative performances.
The duet is responsible for popularizing the musicalization of Sapardi`s poems by such composers as Dipayana, Umar Muslim, Budiman Hakim and Reda herself. Becoming Dew is their latest album that consists of 12 of Sapardi`s poems.
Reda`s splendid voice and the way she naturally let her emotions flow with the lyrical poems when singing Hujan Bulan Juni (June Rain) captivated the audience, most of whom had to walk through the rain to get to the concert.
The audience were more dazzled by the soft timbre of the acoustic guitar played by Jubing Kristianto, which preluded and accompanied Ari-Reda`s Gadis Kecil (Little Girl).
Teater Tetas displayed their visual interpretation of Ketika Berhenti Di Sini (When it Stops Here) with a silent theatrical performance, which seemed to be more puzzling than the poetry.
The show was closed with the song Aku Ingin (I Wish) by Ari-Reda who were again accompanied by Jubing and backed by the Gita Suara Nassa choir.
The Valentine`s Day audience was suitably enchanted by the performances, which brought Sapardi`s love poems to life that night.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com (18 Februari 2008)
