Zubir Said, the Composer of Majulah Singapura

9. The Birthday Bash and Final Curtain

Chapter 9 The Birthday Bash and Final Curtain rb111313_iseas_zubir_layout_c9_v5.indd 226 13/9/12 11:11 AM The Birthday Bash Fortunately, Papa did not have to concern himself with the missing eight bars in his lifetime — the question did not arise again until 2006. Papa had health problems, but the prospect of reaching eighty years of age seemed to invigorate him. He had read in some Islamic teachings that a long life spent in doing good would help to exonerate a person of his sins in the life hereafter, particularly when the person reaches the age of eighty and above. Aware of this and his failing health, he probably fervently prayed for a longer life because he wanted so much to spread more goodness and be exonerated in the life thereafter. For his eightieth birthday party, Papa invited all the students who had received piano lessons from him. They were eager to point out that Papa was one music teacher who could remove the dreariness of piano practice. Indeed, as I see it, Papa had that rare gift of being able to instil in a student a love for learning, any kind of learning, but especially music. In the last listing of his music students who were invited to his eightieth birthday bash on 22 July 1987, Papa recorded forty-four invitees, out of whom I can only be certain thirty-seven were students. The rest might have been photographers and other invited guests. In 1983 and 1984, his records showed a total of forty-one to forty-three students. At eighty years old, he was mentally alert. He looked relatively healthy, although a little emaciated. His last photograph, taken 117 days before his demise, showed him with a happy grin on his face, a picture of contentment. Marvellously, he was still teaching the piano — one to one. For this he could surely be lauded for his stamina and dedication. He celebrated his birthday with great aplomb over three days. One day was for all his students; another day for his friends and the media, and a third day for his family. He had carefully planned his birthday parties himself; designed and printed his invitation letter — which was not exclusive, actually rather simple but original — on rough cyclostyled paper, light yellow in colour, and sweetly personal. Forty-two guests comprising friends and the media were invited on 26 July. For the 22 July party, he invited his students. The party for family The Birthday Bash and Final Curtain 227 rb111313_iseas_zubir_layout_c9_v5.indd 227 13/9/12 11:11 AM 228 Zubir Said, the Composer of Majulah Singapura rb111313_iseas_zubir_layout_c9_v5.indd 228 13/9/12 11:11 AM members on 25 July included all his grandchildren and other people’s grandchildren as well — there were eighteen in all and he named each individually. He painstakingly noted the gift that was appropriate for each one of them. He took great pains to decide what menu he was going to serve on the three days. For 22 July, his menu was planned to cater to the younger group. It consisted of light food such as fried mee hoon, gado-gado, fried chicken, a kind of Malay curry puff (epok-epok), crackers (kerupuk), small cake, oranges, ice cream (“my special” he noted), and drinks. For 26 July, the menu was more exotic, consisting of Briyani rice, dalca and salad, pacri nenas (pineapple chutney), pulut kuning (saffron glutinous rice), rendang, talam betawi and agar-agar (both of which were desserts), and fifty oranges. For all three days he jotted a memo reminding himself to buy “paper hanky” and polythene bags — I’m not sure what the bags were for. Always careful about his spending, he remembered to plan and note his budget. The budget included little gifts for his very young guests. Then there were the sketches showing the arrangement of tables for serving the food, tables for the plates and glasses, etc. There was also a layout of the lounge in diagrammatic form. He even planned some games, such as carom. dominos, lotto and chongkak.1 The entire plan of his birthday celebrations can be found in his little 10×16 cm blue note book in his very own handwriting that was still steady and clear, but with early signs of tremor, visible from his irregular handwriting. He lived out his last days at 190A Joo Chiat Place, which had been home to him...