Bengawan Solo is the longest river in Java which flows along the eastern edge of the town from its source in the limes stones hills of the south. Although the river is now shallow and un-navigable, it was an important link between Solo and the north of the coast of East Java in the past.

	Composed by Gesang Martohartono during WWII when Indonesia was under the Japanese Occupation, Bengawan Solo 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 merchant class always makes use of it. It is in the local Keroncong style, a popular folk style with influences from Portuguese. The Japanese, who occupied the country during World War II, brought this 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.

	This arrangement was commissioned by West Winds, band of the Bukit Batok Community Club, Singapore for their 15th anniversary concert and dedicated to their patrons, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Liew. The work was premiered on March 6th 2010 by West Winds under the direction of arranger at the Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay.

Bengawan Solo (World Premiere)

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