Students playing "Bengawan Solo" to celebrate composer Gesang Martohartono's 92 birthday at his home in Solo, Central Java, this year. (JG Photo/Ali Lutfi)
Solo. The noted composer of the popular song “Bengawan Solo”, Gesang Martohartono, died on Thursday at the age of 92. He will be buried at a military funeral in his family graveyard in Sukoharjo, Central Java, this afternoon.
Gesang, who was rushed to the intensive care unit of the Muhammadiyah Hospital in Solo one week ago, died at the hospital at around 6 p.m., his niece Yuniarti said.
His remains were taken to the Town Hall to allow the public to pay their last respects to the artist. On Friday a number of officials gave their condolences including the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, the major of Solo, Joko Widodo, and Japanese Ambassador for Indonesia Kojiro Shiojiri.
“Bengawan Solo,” about the flowing waters of Solo’s major river, was his most famous creation, becoming popular overseas, particularly in Japan, where soldiers returning home from Indonesia in the 1940s made it popular. The lyrics were translated to Japanese and local singers recorded their versions of the song.
Gesang was one of the most legendary artists in Indonesia. In 2008, Indonesia's Rolling Stone magazine crowned him as one of the country's foremost music icons.
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