Bengawan Solo - The longest Immortal River of Java Island, Indonesia

Thanks for watching - Bengawan Solo - or Solo River is a song written by Gesang Martohartono in 1940. This was the first song written by an Indonesian in Bahasa Indonesia (language) and had achieved widespread popularity in Indonesia as well as neighboring countries of Southeast Asia, Far East and around the world. The Islands of Indonesia are exciting tourists attractions and destination with beautiful sights of waterfalls, volcanoes, terraced paddy slopes, ancient temples of Borobudur at Yogyakarta . It's rich culture in kroncong music , gamelan, Angklung instrumentals, shadow puppet wayang shows, dance etc........

Traveling through Indonesia to Lake Toba with accommodation at Batak homes of Sumatra, Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Yogyakarta, Surabaya years ago, brought back many unforgettable experiences and memories.. Singing Bengawan Solo whilst listening & watching to the ever bubbly Anneke Gronloh (1942-2018) singing and Andy Tielman (1936-2011) playing his guitar was just delightful. Song is sung in Bahasa Indonesia

Ref: DF/EC
Song Lyrics: key of F

Bengawan Solo Riwayatmu ini
Sedari dulu jadi Perhatian insani

Musim kemarau Tak seb’rapa airmu
Di musim hujan air Meluap sampai jauh

Mata airmu dari Solo
Terkurung Gunung Seribu
Air mengalir sampai jauh
Akhirnya ke laut

Itu perahu Riwayatnya dulu
Kaum pedagang s’lalu Naik itu perahu

Translation of lyrics:
The song describes the Solo River meandering it's way from Central and Eastern Java passing through beautiful mountains, cities, villages while making it's way to the sea. This great river had witnessed ancient times with changes in dry and rainy season. Here's the boat and river where merchants frequently traversed.

Credit: Di Marcia backing track