Besar Sagap
{{Short description|Bruneian musician (1914–1988)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Malay name|Awang Haji Besar|Awang Sagap|note=on}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Besar Sagap
| honorific_suffix = SMB PKL
| image = Awang Haji Besar bin Sagap.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|09|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kampong Masjid Lama, Muara, Brunei
| death_date = 1988 (aged 73)
| death_place = Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
| resting_place = Royal Mausoleum, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
| spouse = Pengiran Hajah Zahrah binti Pengiran Hashim
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
| known_for = Composing "Allah Peliharakan Sultan"
}}
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.{{Cite book |title=Pusaka |date=2011 |publisher=Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |pages=8 |language=ms |issue=23}}
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.{{Cite book |last=Mohd. Jamil Al-Sufri |first=Haji |author-link=Jamil Al-Sufri |title=Brunei Darussalam, the Road to Independence |date=1998 |publisher=Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports |pages=9 |language=en}}
Career
Haji Besar, who at that time of composing the national anthem served in the Public Works Department during the British Military Administration.{{Cite book |last=Yura Halim |first= |author-link=Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf |title=Ririsej Brunei Darussalam |date=2002 |publisher=Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports |isbn=978-99917-0-251-3 |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |pages=85 |language=ms}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Bahagian Penerbitan dan Komunikasi Strategik |url=https://www.information.gov.bn/Publication%20listsPDF/Kebangsaan/BUKU_BENDERA_BRUNEI_FINAL.pdf |title=BENDERA DAN LAGU KEBANGSAAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM |publisher=Prime Minister's Office |year=2022 |isbn=978-99917-84-30-4 |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |pages=28 |trans-title=THE BRUNEI DARUSSALAM STATE FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM}}{{cite news |last=H. A. B. |first=Rasidah |date=12 April 2016 |title=HM pays last respects to ex-chief minister |url=http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-national/2016/04/12/hm-pays-last-tribute-ex-chief-minister |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520074714/http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-national/2016/04/12/hm-pays-last-tribute-ex-chief-minister |archive-date=20 May 2016 |access-date=7 May 2016 |work=Brunei Times}} During Barisan Pemuda's first anniversary celebration on 12 April 1947,{{Cite book |last=Hussainmiya |first=B. A. |url=https://www.academia.edu/8412531 |title=Resuscitating Nationalism: Brunei under the Japanese Military Administration (1941-1945) |date=2003-12-26 |publisher=Universiti Brunei Darussalam |location=Brunei |pages=290}}{{Cite book |last=Muslim Burmat |first= |author-link=Muslim Burut |title=Puncak pertama |date=1988 |publisher=Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports |language=ms}} members sang patriotic songs, including Allah Peliharakan Sultan, contributing to its eventual formal recognition.{{Cite book |last=Aziz |first=Hamdan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6paZh8eLiK4C&q=BARIP+BRunei+1939 |title=USNO dan Berjaya: politik Sabah |date=2015 |publisher=Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei |isbn=978-983-46-1524-6 |language=ms}} The anthem, like most songs, saw several versions before being taught to students in a Malay school in Brunei Town.{{Cite book |last=Orr |first=Tamra |title=Brunei |date=2009 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-3121-3 |pages=43 |language=en}} Following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III's coronation in 1950, Brunei's national anthem was formally acknowledged in 1951.
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.{{Cite web |title=Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien |url=http://dscapplications.com/ubdbruneiheritage/Information.php?id=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240922104255/http://dscapplications.com/ubdbruneiheritage/Information.php?id=1 |archive-date=2024-09-22 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Universiti Brunei Darussalam}}{{Cite book |last=Adanan Haji Abdul Latiff (Haji) |first= |title=Bangunan ristaan |date=2011 |publisher=Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports |isbn=978-99917-0-770-9 |pages=19 |language=ms}}{{Cite book |title=50 Years Historical Moments of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, 1958-2008 |date=2008 |publisher=Ministry of Religious Affairs |isbn=978-99917-922-0-0 |pages=90 |language=ms}}
The songwriting team behind the national anthem would later create "Minggu Bahasa" in early 1961.{{Cite news |date=18 January 1961 |title=MINGGU BAHASA |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1961/18%20januari%201961.pdf |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=2 |language=ms}} 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.{{Cite news |date=7 October 1970 |title=DI-SEKITAR PENGISHTIHARAN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1970/7%20oktober%201970.pdf |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=4-5 |language=ms}}
Death
Honours
Haji Besar has received the following honours:
- 50x50px Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class (SMB; 23 September 1962){{Cite news |date=3 October 1962 |title=ISTIADATPENGURNIAAN BINTANG2 KEBESARAN HARI JADI D.Y.M.M. |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1962/Pelita%20Brunei%203%20okt%201962.pdf |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=3 |language=ms}}
- 50x50px Long Service Medal (PKL; 23 September 1956){{Cite news |date=1 October 956 |title=PENGURNIA'AN KEHORMATAN HARI KEPUTERAAN DYMM SULTAN BRUNEI |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1956/1%20oktober%201956%20(3).pdf |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=6 |language=ms}}
