Taman Bunga (Flower Garden)
0:00 1. Biji (The Seed)
2:05 2. Tunas (The Bud)
4:18 3. Bunga (The Flower)
5:30 4. Kupu-kupu (The Butterfly)
8:50 5. Layu (Whitered)
Composed by Arya Kitti
Words by Rani MF Shinta
Jeremiah Purwoto, tenor
Daniel Adipradhana, piano
Performance Hall
Royal College of Music, London
01.06.2023
Composer’s Note:
Inspired by an exquisite Indonesian poetry of Rani MF Shinta, this song cycle embodies genuine feelings and the colorful journey of flowers throughout their lifetime. The piece begins with the stillness of a seed, immediately painted with tiny sparkles, radiating from hope and optimism. It then transforms into dynamic growth and movement, eventually blooms, kissed by butterflies, and returns to where it originally began: stillness. The process of writing was essentially building music structure around the vividly imaginative words of the poetry, resulting in a radiantly painted world of sound.
Poems:
Biji / The Seed
Biji kecil berupaya / A tiny seed with all its might
Biji kecil bertenaga / A small seed full of strength and light
Biji kecil punya asa / A seed that holds a hopeful dream
Biji kecil menyala-nyala / A seed that holds a hopeful dream
Tunas / The Bud
Pada suatu ketika / At some moment
Kelahiran jadi mula / Birth becomes a start
Perjalanan depan mata / Journey ahead unfolds before the heart
Berdirilah tegak ada / Rise tall and steadfast stand
Engkau baik-baik saja / All is well, you are in good hands
Bunga / The Flower
Meliuk diterpa angin / Curving as the wind blows by
Mengusik dalamnya angan / Stirring dreams that lay inside
Melambai menggoda ingin / Waving, tempting with a sigh
Jeratmu menolak jangan / Do not be ensnared, oh abide
Kupu-kupu / The Butterfly
Kupu-kupu lucu / A charming butterfly
Tubuhnya warna-warni / Hues abound
Merah kuning ungu / Red yellow purple
Melayang tanpa henti / Floating unbound
Wahai bunga apa engkau terusik? / Oh flower, what makes you stir?
Tergelitik sayapnya yang menari / Tickled by wing that dance and purr
Kupu-kupu lucu / A lovely butterfly
Menghisap nektar bunga / Sipping nectar so sweet
Satu demi satu / One by one
Lalu pergi ke mana? / Then where does it retreat?
Layu / Whitered
Sendu aku ketika kau berlalu / Melancholic, as you go
Menata keping kelopak yang gugur / Gathering fallen petals, so slow
Aku t’lah tua renta / I am old and frail
Berhenti pura-pura / No more pretending to no avail
Tak lagi sandiwara / No longer the actor, the tale is stale