Benggong [The Final Departure] (SATB)

Benggong is a folk song from Manggarai, Flores, Indonesia, reflecting the region’s tragic history of slavery under Portuguese rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The title comes from "bengt go", meaning now we are going to depart, evoking the sorrow of people forced from their homeland.

This arrangement captures the song’s shifting moods, from the land’s quiet beauty to the anguish of separation. The recurring word "rasung wa" expresses deep grief, while the music’s rhythmic patterns echo traditional bamboo and drum instruments.

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