News | Monday, 9 January 2012 | sundanesecorner.org
Hawé Setiawan
Apung S. Wiratmadja (1936-2012) (Photograph: Retno H.Y./Pikiran Rakyat)
Apung Supena Wiratmadja, a prominent singer and song writer of Sundanese tembang, died of a heart attack at a Bandung hospital yesterday afternoon. He’s 75. According to local media, funeral procession will take place at a public cemetery in the district of Astanaanyar this morning.
Born in a Bandung district of Cicalengka on 7 April 1936, Apung was well-known as one of the distinguish figures that have contributed to the development of Sundanese classic song known as tembang. He didn’t merely sing and write the lyrics, but also organized musical performing group, taught at a Bandung music conservatory, and wrote books on the subject. Among the lyrics he had written were Balaka ‘Honestly’, Jangji Asih ‘A Hope of Love’ and Kutamaya.
He also wrote poetry and short stories, and even won literary awards from Sundanese literary societies in 1970 and 1995. A couple of years ago he received a cultural award from the City of Bandung.***
Did Pa Apung publish his book on Tembang Sunda (in late late 90s)? Can you provide a list of Pa Apung’s publications and discography? Thanks.
Dear Andrew Timar,
To the best of my knowledge, Pa Apung’s books are:
Salawe Sesebitan Hariring ‘Twenty Five Lyrical Songs” (Kiblat Buku Utama, 2009), a collection of poems, 209 pages.
Mengenal Seni Tembang Sunda ‘Introduction to the Art of Sundanese Song’ (1998)
Kuring jeung Tembang Sunda ‘Sundanese Song and I’ (1997)
Sumbangan Asih ka Tembang Sunda ‘A Contribution with Love to Sundanese Song’ (1964)