Hero's Day, Google Doodle Commemorating Ismail Marzuki: The Creator Of The Song Halo, Halo Bandung

Ismail Marzuki's painting (Photo: TomyBetawi)

JAKARTA - Ismail Marzuki's face adorns the Google Doodle on Hero's Day, Wednesday, November 10. Ismail Marzuki is shown with an illustration of himself with a violin and musical notes on the main search page.

The Indonesian government has named Marzuki a National Hero in 2004. Ismail Marzuki was born in Kwitang, Central Jakarta, Indonesia on May 11, 1914.

Although during the Dutch colonial rule, music profession in the community was still not common, Ismail Marzuki grew up practicing up to 5 hours a day to master eight instruments, namely harmonica, mandolin, guitar, ukulele, violin, accordion, saxophone, and piano.

At the age of 17, he composed the first of hundreds of songs produced throughout his career. The songs by Ismail Marzuki are able to capture Indonesia's struggle for independence with a melancholy tone and at the same time represent the nation's resilience through soaring melodies.

He filled the hearts of Indonesians with pride over the years by broadcasting his songs on public radio. No wonder Ismail Marzuki is known as a talented composer who created patriotic songs during the Indonesian independence movement and is considered a national hero.

The songs Halo, Halo Bandung, Autumn Flowers, Mother Earth, Indonesia Pusaka are a small part of his phenomenal work. In 1955, Marzuki took over as leader of the prestigious Jakarta Studio Orchestra and composed the song "Elections", the theme music for the first general election in Indonesia.

Ismail Marzuki died at the age of 44 on May 25, 1958 at his residence, Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta, due to a lung disease he suffered.

In 1968, the Indonesian government honored the late legacy by perpetuating his name in what is now the Jakarta-Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center (TIM). This place serves as a center for preserving Indonesia's cultural heritage and creative innovations in fine arts, music, theater, dance, and film.