Besar Sagap

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Awang Sagap is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Awang Haji Besar. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Besar Sagap
SMB PKL
Born(1914-09-21)21 September 1914
Kampong Masjid Lama, Muara, Brunei
Died1988 (aged 73)
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Resting placeRoyal Mausoleum, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Occupations
Known forComposing "Allah Peliharakan Sultan"
SpousePengiran Hajah Zahrah binti Pengiran Hashim

Besar bin Sagap (21 September 1914 – 1988) was a Bruneian musician and composer who became a notable figure who played a role in the composition of the country's national anthem, Allah Peliharakan Sultan.[1]

Personal life

Besar bin Sagap was born on 21 September 1914, in Kampong Masjid Lama, then-Muara District. As a child, he moved with his parents to the town of Sandakan, North Borneo, where he attended Sandakan Malay Primary School for his primary education and completed his secondary education at the Sandakan Roman Catholic School. His father realised at an early age that his kid had a natural musical gift while they were living there. Therefore, his father sent him to learn with a Filipino Band leader named G. A. Alberto. He learned more about the "art of music" under Alberto's tutelage, which helped him write both western and Malay songs. That allowed him to write a number of songs using the western rhythms he was familiar with at the time.[2]

Career

Haji Besar, who at that time of composing the national anthem served in the Public Works Department during the British Military Administration.[3] The idea that Brunei should have its own anthem, like other contemporary countries, began in 1947 among a group of young people. Haji Besar and Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf were chosen to write the hymn; the former wrote the words, while the latter composed the music.[4][5] During Barisan Pemuda's first anniversary celebration on 12 April 1947,[6][7] members sang patriotic songs, including Allah Peliharakan Sultan, contributing to its eventual formal recognition.[8] The anthem, like most songs, saw several versions before being taught to students in a Malay school in Brunei Town.[9] Following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III's coronation in 1950, Brunei's national anthem was formally acknowledged in 1951.[4]

The early concepts for the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque designs originated from Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III himself and were drawn on paper by a draughtsman, Haji Besar, prior to 1954.[10][11][12]

The songwriting team behind the national anthem would later create "Minggu Bahasa" in early 1961.[13] On 4 October 1970, Brunei Town was formally renamed Bandar Seri Begawan at precisely 00:01. At a ceremony conducted at Padang Besar, Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf, the Menteri Besar of Brunei, issued the declaration. Haji Besar wrote a song called "Ibu Kota Nan Indah" with lyrics by Abdul Wahab Mohamed to celebrate the renaming of the city in honour of this milestone.[14]

Death

Haji Besar died in 1988.[15]

Honours

Haji Besar has received the following honours:

References

  1. ^ Pusaka (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2011. p. 8.
  2. ^ Mohd. Jamil Al-Sufri, Haji (1998). Brunei Darussalam, the Road to Independence. Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports. p. 9.
  3. ^ Yura Halim (2002). Ririsej Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. p. 85. ISBN 978-99917-0-251-3.
  4. ^ a b Bahagian Penerbitan dan Komunikasi Strategik (2022). BENDERA DAN LAGU KEBANGSAAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM [THE BRUNEI DARUSSALAM STATE FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM] (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Prime Minister's Office. p. 28. ISBN 978-99917-84-30-4.
  5. ^ H. A. B., Rasidah (12 April 2016). "HM pays last respects to ex-chief minister". Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ Hussainmiya, B. A. (26 December 2003). Resuscitating Nationalism: Brunei under the Japanese Military Administration (1941-1945). Brunei: Universiti Brunei Darussalam. p. 290.
  7. ^ Muslim Burmat (1988). Puncak pertama (in Malay). Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
  8. ^ Aziz, Hamdan (2015). USNO dan Berjaya: politik Sabah (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei. ISBN 978-983-46-1524-6.
  9. ^ Orr, Tamra (2009). Brunei. Marshall Cavendish. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7614-3121-3.
  10. ^ "Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien". Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  11. ^ Adanan Haji Abdul Latiff (Haji) (2011). Bangunan ristaan (in Malay). Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. p. 19. ISBN 978-99917-0-770-9.
  12. ^ 50 Years Historical Moments of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, 1958-2008 (in Malay). Ministry of Religious Affairs. 2008. p. 90. ISBN 978-99917-922-0-0.
  13. ^ "MINGGU BAHASA" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 18 January 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  14. ^ "DI-SEKITAR PENGISHTIHARAN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 7 October 1970. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  15. ^ Berg, Tiago José (26 November 2012). Hinos de todos os países do mundo. Panda Books. ISBN 978-85-7888-191-7.
  16. ^ "ISTIADATPENGURNIAAN BINTANG2 KEBESARAN HARI JADI D.Y.M.M." (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 3 October 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  17. ^ "PENGURNIA'AN KEHORMATAN HARI KEPUTERAAN DYMM SULTAN BRUNEI" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 1 October 956. p. 6. Retrieved 7 October 2024.