History of the Organizational Structure of Pesparani/Pesparawi

The Pesta Paduan Suara Gerejawi (PESPARAWI), an Indonesian Christian choral festival or its predecessor the Pesta Paduan Suara Gerejani (PESPARANI), has become a nationwide celebratory event in Indonesia and has helped Indonesian government create national stability by preserving Indonesian cultures and bringing unity. This study documents the history of PESPARAWI by exploring the following: 1) the events and institutions preceding the establishment of PESPARAWI; 2) the purpose and philosophy of the PESPARAWI; 3) contribution of Indonesian composers; and 4) a list of repertoires performed at PESPARAWI from 1983 to 2015. The national tragic event (G30 S/PKI) in 1965, had brought Indonesia to a troublesome situation. More than millions of lives were killed because of political uprising and instability to maintain its independence. The Indonesian government responded to the tragedy by supporting several religious social activities that focused on building trust, creating unity, and enhancing moral standards in Indonesia. One such religious social activity was the festival PESPARAWI, which became nationwide in 1983. Originally, the festival was for adult choirs, but the festival has grown to include 12 categories. As a result, the festival has influenced choral literature internationally. Through PESPARAWI, Indonesian people maintained the Unity in Diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika), and thereof PESPARAWI can be an example of national unification efforts through choral music.