Wandly Yazid
Hj Wandly Yazid (24 February 1925 – 5 August 2005) is an acclaimed composer, arranger and musician, recognised for his contribution to the Malay film and music industry in the 1940s to the 1960s. He performed as a violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, he received the COMPASS Meritorious Award by Composers and Authors Society of Singapore. Fondly remembered as Pak Wandly, he is renowned for the popular evergreen "Gurindam Jiwa", the theme song for the classic film of the same name. In 2015, the song bagged the Top Song Award at "Viva Musik SG50" by Suria , Warna 94.2FM, and Ria 89.7 FM in 2015. Background. Wandly Yazid was born on 24 February 1925 in Sumatra, Indonesia into a family of educators. His father Jazid Sutan Tjaniago was from Suliki and his mother Djalinoen Daud from Payakumbuh, both in West Sumatra. He was educated in Dutch primary and high schools, and graduated from the Teachers Training Institute, West Sumatra. Music. Introduced to music during his primary school days, Wandly decided to study music at 17, when he was a schoolteacher. He learnt the violin and clarinet under teachers Pak Hamid and Mr I Bree. He also studied  watercolour and oil painting under the late Indonesian master artist Wakidi, in Bukittinggi. In 1947, this Minangkabau lad came to Singapore, where the Malay film industry was thriving. Here, he studied piano arrangement under Mr Concordio Soliano, and violin under Mr Raquiza and Mr Paul Soliano. He also learnt to play the saxophone and clarinet under Mr Paul Martinez. Achievements. Proficient in four instruments–piano, violin, clarinet and saxophone, Pak Wandly also wrote music scores. He formed the Wandy Yazid Orkestra, Wandy Five and the Megawati Orkestra (with The Radio Malaya) all in 1952, as well as set up his  own record label. He composed music for films by the Nusantara Film Company such as "Angin Berpesan" (1954), where he composed the song "Kasih Bermula", accompanied by the Megawati Orkestra, which he conducted. Wandly received an award for the music direction of "Hassan's Homecoming" (1954) for the Malayan Film Unit (now National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) or FINAS. Directed by Mohd Zain Hussain, this documentary was screened at the 8th Edinburgh International Film Festival (1954) and won Best Film (Non-Drama) at the 2nd Southeast Asia Film Festival, Singapore in 1955. In 1956, he performed with the Singapore Symphony  Orchestra as a violinist. In 1959, Wandly founded the Fajar Record Company, where he composed and arranged songs, and accompanied singers like Julie Sudiro, Orchid Abdullah and Rosiah Chik. He also trained those who later became successful including Ernie Djohan and Rafeah Buang. The 1960s saw him composing and arranging songs and background music for more than 13 classic films under Cathay-Keris Films (now Cathay Organisation), including "Hang Jebat" (1961), "Jalak Lenteng" (1961), "Lanchang Kuning" (1962), "Panglima Besi" (1964), "Kasih Ibu" (1965), "Naga di Tasik Cini" (1966) and "Gurindam Jiwa" (1966) and many others. "Gurindam Jiwa" was to become  a popular film, mostly due to his composition of the theme song, also titled "Gurindam Jiwa". Originally sung by R. Ismail and Rafeah Buang, with lyrics by Hamzah Hussein, the song remains an evergreen favourite for many fans until today. Wandly was also appointed Music Director of Cathay-Keris Films during this time. In the 1970s, Pak Wandly composed and arranged songs and background music for television programmes like "Pesta Pop", as well as radio programmes. In 1976, he became a violinist and member of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now MediaCorp) Orchestra. He later formed his own band, Café Vienna  Trio, with Mr Ahmad Jarr and Mr Ahmad Sahab. They played classical and commercial music at Holiday Inn. He also gave solo piano performances at major hotels. Later life & art. Retiring in 1992, he continued to perform, and taught music to the young. Not only was he a musician, but an artist. His watercolour paintings were exhibited at: He died on 5 Aug 2005 at his Aljunied Crescent home. He leaves behind his wife, Hjh Iswanar Wahid, and five children – three of whom hold a master's degree, and one a bachelors. Membership. Wandly Yazid was a member of Composers  and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS); PERKAMUS; APAD; "Niniek Mamak" (Council of Advisors), Singapore Minangkabau Association; and National Arts Council (Singapore) (NAC).