How ungrateful we are,
the land is rich and fertile;
the land is rich and fertile.
the sea is vast, the mountain majestic,
the water is rich and fertile;
green fields, hills and valleys.
green fields, hills and valleys.
Reff:
Great God Almighty.
The Great God Almighty.
It's all by grace,
The Great Almighty God.
Great God Almighty.
The Great God Almighty.
(Hymn 337)
Who would have thought the lyrics were written by a man who had just been hurt by the country he loved and upheld in song. He had just been released from a political prison on Buru Island. For seven years he had been held without trial. There was no evidence that he was guilty. He was accused of being a communist. For seven years he was tortured. However, afterwards he became a champion of the country that tortured him.
That man was Subronto Kusumo Atmojo. He was born in Tayu, Pati, Central Java, in 1929. Since childhood, he was interested in music. Late at night he would watch gamelan rehearsals. In primary and junior high school, he was active in the senin suara activities. His father was a rice miller and a mosque fundraiser.
Subronto entered high school in Semarang. One day he passed in front of a church and heard choir practice. He went in and asked, "I'm Muslim. Can I join this choir?" He sang right away, and was the most enthusiastic.
In Jakarta Subronto entered the College of Journalism. His interest remained in music. Every chance he got, he studied with veteran composers and conductors such as Amir Pasaribu, Adhidarma Lie Eng Liong, Sudjasmin, and others. He worked at the Arts Broadcast, Studio RRI Jakarta. Then for three years Subronto studied at the Hanss Eisler College of Music in Berlin, Germany. He graduated cum laude and returned to Jakarta in August 1965.
On 30 September 1965 the G30S erupted. The PKI was accused of seizing government power. People who were considered pro-PKI became targets of hatred. Subronto was arrested and detained in Cijantung. A month later he was released. Since then he has been labelled a PKI sympathiser, sacked from his job and struggled to find any work. He makes a living as a bemo driver.
Two years later the military organised another “purge”. Communist sympathisers were rounded up. Subronto was arrested again. Once he languished in a 2x2 metre cell with a man who was also accused of being a communist. The man was very helpful and tolerant. Subronto was impressed by this man who was a Christian. Subronto asked a lot of questions about what Jesus did and taught.
In 1970, Subronto was transported to Buru Island. There he quietly continued his efforts to study Christ as a model and saviour of life. On 27 April 1971, unbeknownst to many, he was baptised as a follower of Christ.
After seven years of physical and mental suffering, Subronto was finally released and returned to Jakarta. However, another ordeal awaited, as the Soeharto government blew a gale of hatred towards communist sympathisers. No institution or company dared to accept communist sympathisers. Subronto was rejected everywhere. His ID card had an ET code on it, meaning ex-political prisoner.
In the midst of the impasse, a path suddenly opened up. Subronto was invited to work at BPK Gunung Mulia as a music book editor. From there he also contributed to Yamuger and STT Jakarta. Various church music workshops he led. As a teacher and songwriter Subronto is known for his clear quiet demeanour and brilliantly intelligent mindset. During his time at BPK Gunung Mulia, Subronto has composed at least 25 church songs, 20 solo songs with piano accompaniment, 3 cantatas and oratorios, and dozens of arrangements. His work “How Ungrateful We Are” illustrates how Subronto's attitude and mindset were always positive. There was no grudge against the regime that tortured him. His love for his homeland only strengthened. Note the variety and sentence structure, ” How can we not be grateful to have Indonesia as our homeland? ” He details it as a rich and fertile homeland, whose seas are vast, whose mountains are majestic, whose fields, hills and valleys are green.
Note the variety and sentence structure, ” How can we not be grateful to have Indonesia as our homeland?
Conclusion is made by Subronto in the refrain, "It's all thanks to the grace of God." This refrain becomes more beautiful if when singing it we feel the pentatonic melody of this song. Pentatonic is a note that consists of five tones like in gamelan.
In the third stanza Subronto seems to see the colourful blend of Indonesia's diversity.In the various colours it is “ brilliantly beautiful, beautiful, peaceful and firm ”. If we are grateful for the diversity of the various colours, it will bring Indonesia triumphant and firm. And Subronto again invites all of us to be grateful for all the gifts as “ blessings of God ”.
This hymn is based on Psalm 136. Of the five sections of the Psalm, Subronto refers to the 1st section (verses 1-3), 2nd section (verses 4-9) and 5th section (verse 26). Notice the objects of gratitude that Subronto takes over, namely "the heavens", "the earth above the waters", "the sun", "the moon and the stars" (verses 5-9). This psalm is a chant. The chorus reads, "His steadfast love endures forever" (in the BIMK Bible, "His love endures forever") and is sung twenty-six times. This psalm of thanksgiving made a lasting impression on Subronto.
Subronto's distinctive works are pentatonic melodic church songs. Pentatonic consists of only five notes, yet it is unique and beautiful. Cultures that recognise Pentatonic melodies include Javanese and Chinese cultures.
Subronto's devotion to the church was also pentatonic. He worked for only five years, but it was unique and beautiful. He worked five years at BPK Gunung Mulia and then contracted brain cancer and died at the age of 53. Only five years, like pentatonic, only five notes.
Selamat Mengindonesia, Andar Ismail. BPK Gunung Mulia. 2019.
