Noted Keroncong composer Gesang passes away

Prominent keroncong composer Gesang Martohartono passed away at 6:10 p.m. Thursday after being  treated for several days at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital in Surakarta, Central Java.

Gesang, 93, was admitted to the hospital on May 12 with a digestive problem.

The senior composer, whose masterpiece “Bengawan Solo” won accolades from the Japanese government, had complained of nausea while eating.

Gesang's health condition had dropped as of noon on Thursday and according to one of his nephews, Ardani, he died when he was accompanied by many of his family members. “There wasn't any last message from him,” said Ardani as qouted by tempointeraktif.com.

Gesang's body was brought home and laid to rest at his residence in Kemlayan, Surakarta, before his  burial scheduled on Friday.