On the composer of Bengawan Solo
On the composer of Bengawan Solo
Referring to the letter Composer of Bengawan Solo by M. Hadi
S. in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 30, 1999, I am strongly convinced
that Bengawan Solo was not composed by Gesang, but it was
composed by the late Sujoko.
This controversial issue came to the surface a long time ago
and the name of Gesang often appeared in newspapers, also when he
was invited to come to Japan and on various other occasions. It
was often mentioned in the newspapers and tabloids published in
Central Java and Jakarta that Bengawan Solo was not really
composed by Gesang. However, up to date, Gesang has never denied
it and has never insisted either openly that he was the composer
of that song.
When I lived in Surakarta I had a neighbor by the name of (the
late) Sapari -- a well-known musician. He was about the same age
as Sujoko. During the Dutch rule, Mas (brother) Sapari played in
NIROM, Bandung, West Java. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia
he returned to his hometown of Surakarta. His house was only
about 30 meters away from my father's house. He often came to our
house to play badminton. Also he often played Kroncong music
together with us.
In Surakarta's Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) orchestra he was
known as a capable musician and played the melody guitar. But he
confessed that he admired Kamsidi for his adeptness in musical
arrangement, among other potpourri Jaya Wijaya. Sapari said that
Gesang was not the composer of Bengawan Solo. According to him,
Gesang was highly unlikely to have the capability to compose a
song, because he was hardly a musician and could not play any
musical instrument.
Given that information, I was appalled and almost burst into
laughter when seeing on TV, Gesang wearing Javanese traditional
costume and playing the traditional bamboo flute. I was then
reminded of the Sujokos who had never enjoyed the result of
Sujoko's musical piece. In an open letter, a reader in Surakarta
said that he was in possession of authentic evidence to the
effect that Bengawan Solo was not composed by Gesang. But,
strangely, Gesang has kept totally silent on this matter.
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO
Jakarta
Referring to the letter Composer of Bengawan Solo by M. Hadi
S. in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 30, 1999, I am strongly convinced
that Bengawan Solo was not composed by Gesang, but it was
composed by the late Sujoko.
This controversial issue came to the surface a long time ago
and the name of Gesang often appeared in newspapers, also when he
was invited to come to Japan and on various other occasions. It
was often mentioned in the newspapers and tabloids published in
Central Java and Jakarta that Bengawan Solo was not really
composed by Gesang. However, up to date, Gesang has never denied
it and has never insisted either openly that he was the composer
of that song.
When I lived in Surakarta I had a neighbor by the name of (the
late) Sapari -- a well-known musician. He was about the same age
as Sujoko. During the Dutch rule, Mas (brother) Sapari played in
NIROM, Bandung, West Java. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia
he returned to his hometown of Surakarta. His house was only
about 30 meters away from my father's house. He often came to our
house to play badminton. Also he often played Kroncong music
together with us.
In Surakarta's Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) orchestra he was
known as a capable musician and played the melody guitar. But he
confessed that he admired Kamsidi for his adeptness in musical
arrangement, among other potpourri Jaya Wijaya. Sapari said that
Gesang was not the composer of Bengawan Solo. According to him,
Gesang was highly unlikely to have the capability to compose a
song, because he was hardly a musician and could not play any
musical instrument.
Given that information, I was appalled and almost burst into
laughter when seeing on TV, Gesang wearing Javanese traditional
costume and playing the traditional bamboo flute. I was then
reminded of the Sujokos who had never enjoyed the result of
Sujoko's musical piece. In an open letter, a reader in Surakarta
said that he was in possession of authentic evidence to the
effect that Bengawan Solo was not composed by Gesang. But,
strangely, Gesang has kept totally silent on this matter.
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO
Jakarta