Bengawan Solo (song)
Encyclopedia
Bengawan Solo is a famous Indonesia
n song
about the Solo River, which flows through central and eastern Java, Indonesia
and is that island's longest river
.
The song describes the legendary river in a poetic and nostalgic way, that it is surrounded by mountains, its sources are near the city of Surakarta
, that it ends in the sea, and that the merchants make use of it.
Written in 1940 by Gesang Martohartono
, it is in the local kroncong
style, a popular folk style with influences from Portuguese. The Japanese, who occupied the country during World War II
, brought the song with them to Japan after returning from the war. There, and also in the rest of Asia and later worldwide, the song became very famous.
The song's widespread popularity began soon after its composition, and locally it is strongly associated with the period of war occupation and the society of the times. In 1940 Gesang, then a young, destitute and untrained musician, composed the song on a bamboo flute and began to sing it at local functions and gatherings in his hometown of Surakarta. It soon became well-known and liked among the local Japanese community; the song then achieved national acclaim after it was broadcast to a wider audience by various radio stations.
The melodies of the song also appealed to both the occupying Japanese soldiers
, and the non-Indonesian prisoners (mainly Dutch civilians) in the internment camps. The song was taken back to Japan by the returning soldiers, where it (with the lyrics translated to Japanese) gained great popularity after various singers such as Toshi Matsuda released recorded versions of it which became best-sellers. The song has become almost synonymous with the perception of Indonesian music
in Japan.
In 1991, a group of appreciative Japanese war veterans arranged for a statue of Martohartono to be erected in a park in Surakarta
. Gesang himself was still resident in the city, now a nationally renowned figure.
Various artistes have recorded the song, among whom are Waljinah
, Toshi Matsuda, Anneke Grönloh
, Rebecca Pan
and Frances Yip
.
"Bengawan Solo" is a popular name given to restaurants and businesses, in reminiscence of the song.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
about the Solo River, which flows through central and eastern Java, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and is that island's longest river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
.
The song describes the legendary river in a poetic and nostalgic way, that it is surrounded by mountains, its sources are near the city of Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
, that it ends in the sea, and that the merchants make use of it.
Written in 1940 by Gesang Martohartono
Gesang Martohartono
Gesang Martohartono was a renowned Indonesian singer-songwriter from central Java, and he is the composer of the song Bengawan Solo, a tune which has become famous throughout Indonesia, Japan, much of Asia, and some other countries in the world. The song is almost synonymous with the kroncong...
, it is in the local kroncong
Kroncong
Kroncong is the name of a ukulele-type instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong , the band or combo or ensemble consist of a flute, a violin, a melody guitar, a cello in pizzicato style, string bass also in...
style, a popular folk style with influences from Portuguese. The Japanese, who occupied the country during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, brought the song with them to Japan after returning from the war. There, and also in the rest of Asia and later worldwide, the song became very famous.
The song's widespread popularity began soon after its composition, and locally it is strongly associated with the period of war occupation and the society of the times. In 1940 Gesang, then a young, destitute and untrained musician, composed the song on a bamboo flute and began to sing it at local functions and gatherings in his hometown of Surakarta. It soon became well-known and liked among the local Japanese community; the song then achieved national acclaim after it was broadcast to a wider audience by various radio stations.
The melodies of the song also appealed to both the occupying Japanese soldiers
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
, and the non-Indonesian prisoners (mainly Dutch civilians) in the internment camps. The song was taken back to Japan by the returning soldiers, where it (with the lyrics translated to Japanese) gained great popularity after various singers such as Toshi Matsuda released recorded versions of it which became best-sellers. The song has become almost synonymous with the perception of Indonesian music
Music of Indonesia
The music of Indonesia demonstrates its cultural diversity, the local musical creativity, as well as subsequent foreign musical influences that shaped contemporary music scenes of Indonesia. Nearly thousands of Indonesian islands having its own cultural and artistic history and character. This...
in Japan.
In 1991, a group of appreciative Japanese war veterans arranged for a statue of Martohartono to be erected in a park in Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
. Gesang himself was still resident in the city, now a nationally renowned figure.
Various artistes have recorded the song, among whom are Waljinah
Waljinah
Waljinah is one the most famous and beloved Javanese traditional singers, especially with her song "Walangkekek" which made her very popular among the javanese. She also has made some collaborations with top Indonesian artists such as Didi Kempot, Gesang, Titik Puspa and so on.She was born in...
, Toshi Matsuda, Anneke Grönloh
Anneke Grönloh
Louise Johanna Grönloh, is a female Dutch singer.-Life:Anneke was born in Tondano, North Celebes, Dutch East Indies and spent her early years in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies in a Japanese concentration camp...
, Rebecca Pan
Rebecca Pan
Rebecca Pan Di-hua is a Chinese actress and singer.She was born in Shanghai on 29 December 1931. She moved to Hong Kong in 1949. Her singing career began in 1957...
and Frances Yip
Frances Yip
Frances Yip Lai-yee is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer. She is best known for performing many of the theme songs for television series produced by TVB in the 1980s and early 1990s....
.
"Bengawan Solo" is a popular name given to restaurants and businesses, in reminiscence of the song.
Trivia
- Bengawan SoloBengawan Solo (company)Bengawan Solo is a bakery in Singapore. It has 38 outlets islandwide with a factory at 23 Woodlands. The bakery makes kueh, buns, cakes, cookies and mooncakes. All products are prepared at Woodlands and delivered to the stores 2-3 times daily...
is the name of a popular chain of cake and pastry shops in SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. - The tune became a big hit among Chinese communities after Malaysian singer Ms Poon Sow Keng sang to the tune with Mandarin Chinese lyrics for Hongkong Pathe in 1957. The popularity of the tune was further boosted by Ms Koo Mei, who made her rendition for Philips Records shortly thereafter. Incidentally, Pathe and Philips were major competitors at that time. Since then, many Chinese language singers have written their own lyrics for the tune, making the tune a well-known tune in Chinese oldies music.
- "By the River of Love", dating from early 1960s Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, is a song in English lyrics written to the tune. The lyrics of that song describe a romantic evening beneath twinkling stars and swaying palms. The period recording by Rebecca PanRebecca PanRebecca Pan Di-hua is a Chinese actress and singer.She was born in Shanghai on 29 December 1931. She moved to Hong Kong in 1949. Her singing career began in 1957...
can be heard on the soundtrack to the 2000 movie "In the Mood for LoveIn the Mood for LoveIn the Mood for Love is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung...
" by director Wong Kar-waiWong Kar-waiWong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
. Ms. Pan also has a role in the movie, playing Mrs. Suen.
Lyrics
| Indonesian lyrics | English translation |
|---|---|
| Bengawan Solo Bengawan Solo River Bengawan Solo River is the longest river on the Indonesian island of Java, approximately 600 km in length. Apart from its importance as watercourse to the inhabitants and farmlands of the eastern and northern parts of the island, it is a renowned region in paleoanthropology circles... |
Solo River |
| Riwayatmu ini | Thus your chronicles |
| Sedari dulu jadi | Have been since earliest times |
| Perhatian insani | Of sentient attention |
| Musim kemarau | In the dry season |
| Tak seb'rapa airmu | Your water is not much |
| Di musim hujan, air | In the rainy season, water |
| Meluap sampai jauh | Spills reaching far distances |
| Chorus: | |
| Mata airmu dari Solo Surakarta Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and... |
Your water springs forth from Solo |
| Terkurung Gunung Seribu | Surrounded by a thousand mountains |
| Air mengalir sampai jauh | Water flows to reach far distances |
| Akhirnya ke laut | Eventually to the sea |
| Itu perahu | That boat |
| Riwayatmu dulu | In your past chronicles |
| Kaum pedagang s'lalu | The merchant folks had always |
| Naik itu perahu | Sailed in such boats |