Maestro Yusaf Rahman

Contemporary Art Music Runner Minang

By Sondri BS/Tim DKSB

Yusaf Rahman, born on June 4, 1933, in Muaro Labuah, West Sumatra. Small kampong called Kampung Lurah Labuah Muaro Market (now known as Market Muaro Labuah). Yusaf, the eldest child of twelve children. Her father, a registered nurse (registered nurse first class) and also a violinist. His mother named Badariah also adept at playing the lute, although in those days women rarely able to play a musical instrument.

Blood art that's both parents are inherited. Talents which later expanded into a self-taught learning. Yusaf try to use their own musical instruments without a teacher. Although previously studied at the Faculty of Agriculture, ability, insight, and knowledge in the field of musical composition, no doubt. The music he loves.

Yusaf is also a creative in developing musical instruments and making musical instruments from simple materials. He always carried a knife for close-fisted and wind instruments made of bamboo and paralon. One giant leap made Yusaf in Minangkabau traditional music that is created for Talempong diatonic scales in 1968. Talempong that have been played with pentatonic melodies developed into diatonic scales.

With Talempong diatonic scales can accompany modern music. Until now, all music group playing traditional Minangkabau Talempong with diatonic scales. He also developed a technique of making accurate sounding musical instrument and to develop ways to play modern music in order to produce the sound of traditional musical instruments.

Besides playing music, Yusaf also created Minang songs, Japanese national anthem and a few songs college in West Sumatra. Since the fifties Yusaf has worked. PRRI even in wartime, he was still creating songs, that song "Ornament Village." At that time he was inspired by the sound of birds in the Forest Maek, regency.

Other songs he created, among others; Indak Kabarulang, odd twists and turns, Lindok-lindok, Silver-silver, Takana Bundo (Rusuah Heart), have Diratok'I, Taserak Kasiah in Bukik High, Beautiful Nature Neg'ri Ancestors, Indonesia- Malaysia, Dendang Tahniah, City Brothers, Photography Umbrellas, Series Waiting, Asmi Padang, Hymn of the University of Bung Hatta, YPTK Padang, Indonesia Persada Beloved. Japanese songs that he created, among others; Kwo wa Owakare (Time Separated), Eye Aimasyo (au revoir) and Nihon wa Utsukusu (Japan the Beautiful).

Umbrella song Beautiful Nature Photography and Ancestors is a song request Affairs Datuk Samad Idris, Minister of Youth and Malaysian troops are still descendants Pagaruyung. Yusaf love towards the homeland also be described in song and Rusuah Heart Ornament Village.

Music and who put her to various countries. In the year 1963 as a musician, he went to Pakistan following the Presidential Cultural Mission for twenty days. He several times to Malaysia since 1968 until 1998 as a goodwill mission leaders Arts of West Sumatra, a musician and as an interpreter trainer and as pensyarah music. In 1984, Yusaf went to France as a participant of World Folk Arts Festival, and in 1986 returned to France as the leader of Islamic Arts in West Sumatra Worldwide Islamic Arts Festival, and in 1991 for the second time, went to France as a participant of All People's Art Festival world. He has also been to Brunei Darussalam in 1989 as leader of the arts in West Sumatra and in 1987 to Greece, precisely as a participant in Lefkada International Festival of Folk Lore Lefkadas Island. Other European countries he had visited, Italy, namely in 1986 as leader of the Islamic art of West Sumatra in the Islamic World Music Festival and in 1987 he returned to Italy as a participant performing arts.

Different Music Teacher

Yusaf was a teacher for many artists music in West Sumatra. He founded the department of art, drama, dance and music IKIP Padang and worked as a lecturer at the Teachers' Training College of Padang. Yusaf is the person who asked Professor James Isman, who was then rector of Teachers' Training College majoring in the field to serve targeted curriculum. Apart from being a formal teacher he is also an informal teacher for many musical artists. He was never stingy share his knowledge on his students.

One of his disciples, known as Yusaf Rahman music artists and creators Minang songs Asnam named Rashid. Asnam know him since 1968 when Yusaf go to Malaysia as a team leader goodwill Arts of West Sumatra. Incidentally brother of Asnam participate in a team led Mr. Cap, Yusaf Rahman calls for his students and people who knew him. But the new Asnam studied music with Yusaf in the year in Bukittinggi. Yusaf teaching about music and science scores. In teaching, students are required to find his own knowledge and skills, in addition to what he brought. Many artists who "became" under his guidance. Yusaf and Asnam never worked on the music of the song "Dendang Tahnia"

Informal, Unpretentious

Mr Cap is known as a man who does not like formality. In teaching Pak Cap did not ask for selfless and timeless. He taught principles that often convey "If you want to know it's sweet sugar, sugar used to try it, just know it." Immediate practical teaching method.

The first time was asked as a teacher in Malaysia (guest professor), he taught music tardisional. One time, Dean invites Pak Cap see a marching band equipment and he plays all the instruments of modern music that is there. Because of his ability to play a variety of modern instruments, he finally believed the teaching of modern musical instruments. From 1993 until 1997 Yusaf Rahman, a visiting professor at the University of Northern Malaysia.

He is also familiar with the culture and traditions of tribes and nations share. Can speak in several foreign languages and regional languages like Acehnese language, Melayu, Mandailing and Nias.

Pak Cap Sovyani married on August 23, 1964. Beloved wife is also a dance artist. During the trip to their household, Yusaf often helps Sovyani garapannya creating music for dance. Sovyani blessed marriage with five daughters and one son.

Yusaf very loving family. One of the songs that he created, supposedly inspired by his love for his wife. He is also compassionate towards her children. According to his daughter, when her children came home from school with a scowling face for failing a math test, he invited them to play music, because her music can soothe and comfort a troubled heart.

In the year two thousand, he began an attack of heart disease. As often happens earthquake in Padang, he requested to live in Bandung, with his son. He worried, as his old age more slowly when running to avoid disaster. Finally he died in the city of Bandung on and released with profound sorrow that many parties. But he had previously told not to be saddened by his departure, like the poem that he wrote "need Dirato'i".

As an artistic soul, he has a sensitivity to life. Life of a world filled with temptation does not make Yusaf drift. Her desire to be closer to the creator given the way through the meeting with Professor Khadirun Yahya who is also head of the order Nahsyabandiyah. Eventually he developed a spiritual life in order Nahsyabandiyah until the end. He was intestate, when the dead get buried in the mosque congregation Nahsyabandiyah, where people like the song of remembrance that ushered him into the presence of "the Divine Artist."