R Soetedjo Museum Proposed in Purwokerto, Menbud Fadli Minta Proposal Resmi dan Data Lengkap

JAKARTA - The family of the late R. Soetedjo proposed developing the R. Soetedjo Art Building in Purwokerto into a museum and music education space.

Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon responded by asking for the proposal to be submitted officially, accompanied by supporting data and documents so that it can be followed up according to the mechanism.

The proposal was conveyed during an audience with the R. Soetedjo family at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Friday, February 20. Ario Prakoso, grandson of R. Soetedjo, said the family wanted to re-enact the deceased's role as a pioneer of Indonesian music and orchestra. "Many people know his songs, but not necessarily know his role and contribution in the history of national music," he said. He said works such as Tidurlah Intan and Di Tepinya Sungai Serayu are still known.

Artika, R. Soetedjo's grandson, added that the family had traced the history and documentation, including educational archives, careers, and publication of works. He also mentioned that R. Soetedjo had once led the Jakarta Studio Orchestra in the early period of its establishment. (Orkes Studio Jakarta: an orchestra group formed for broadcast/recording needs at that time).

The family considers the R. Soetedjo Arts Building to be available but not yet functioning optimally. They propose a museum containing the archives of R. Soetedjo's works as well as other local artists, and hope it can become a cultural tourism destination. Artika compared this potential with Lokananta (a label/archive of state-owned recordings known as a music documentation center).

Fadli appreciated the family's search, but emphasized the importance of completeness of data. "I appreciate the family's efforts who have searched and completed the data of his history... Regarding the museum plan in Purwokerto, please submit it officially so that we can follow up," said Fadli.

R. Soetedjo (Raden Soetedja Poerwodibroto) is known as a composer from Banyumas, Central Java, who worked at RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia) in Purwokerto and Jakarta. Some of the archives are said to have been lost due to a fire at RRI Jakarta, so the family encouraged evidence-based documentation so that the traces of the work would not continue to be interrupted.

The audience, which was also attended by related officials at the Ministry of Culture and the family of R. Soetedjo, was the first step in coordination between the family of the late R. Soetedjo and the Ministry of Culture in an effort to strengthen the preservation and documentation of national music history.