Know Art Tarling

Tarling is a typical art of the northeast coastal region of West Java (Indramayu-Cirebon and surrounding areas). This art form is essentially a musical performance, but accompanied by a short drama. The name "Tarling" is taken from the abbreviation of two dominant musical instrument: guitar akuistik and flute (suling). Besides these two instruments, there are also a number of percussion, saron, kempul, and gongs.

Tarling early development is unclear. However, in the 1950's similar music was broadcast by RRI Tarling Cirebon in "Rhythm City Shrimp", and make it popular. In the 1960's this show was called "Tarling" and began to enter the elements of drama.

Since the widespread popularity of dangdut in the 1980's, art Tarling urgency. This forces the artists Tarling dangdut incorporate elements in their performances, and the results of this mixing-dubbed Tarling dangdut (or tarlingdut). Furthermore, due to the demands of its customers own, Tarling songs mixed with electronic music devices to form a single organ groups Tarling organs. At this time, Tarling has been very rarely performed and is no longer popular. Tarling dangdut dangdut more accurately described Cirebon.

History Cirebonan Tarling

For people who live in the north coast (coast), especially Indramayu district and Cirebon regency, Tarling art are familiar. Strains of the sound produced by musical instruments guitar and flute, as capable of eliminating the heavy burden of life that press. Lyrics of the song and the story told in it, is also capable of providing a moral message that enlighten and entertain.

Although it has been so entrenched in people's lives, not many people know how the origins of the creation of Tarling. Also, do not also known from where the real art was born Tarling.

But certainly, Tarling is an art born of the people of coast, and not the art of the 'palace centric'. Therefore, Tarling continues to grow in accordance with the times, and not tied to a particular rhythm and order, as art that was born in the middle of 'palace'.


City Ayu and Melody Melody Shrimp City

Before the 'official' name Tarling, art is known as 'melody of ayu' in Indramayu district, and the 'melody of shrimp' in Cirebon. On August 17, 1962, chairman of the Daily Government Agency (BPH, now Parliament) of Cirebon, call the arts as Tarling.

Tarling name was identified with the origin of the word 'take around' (in Indonesian guitar) and flutes (flute). Another version said that Tarling contains philosophy 'yen wis mlatar kudu eling''(if it is doing is negative, then have to repent).

One of the original art Indramayu district, Supali Kasim, make separate notes about in his book entitled Tarling Tarling, Migration sound of the gamelan to guitar-flute. In the book he said, the origin Tarling began to emerge around the year 1931 in the village of Kepandean, District / County Indramayu. At that time, there was a Dutch commissioner who asks for help to local residents who called Mang Sakim, to fix his guitar. Mang Sakim then known as gamelan expert.

After repair, the Dutch commissioner nevertheless it was not taking back his guitar. That opportunity finally Sakim Mang used to study the guitar tones, and compare it with pentatonic tones of gamelan.

This rose carried by a child named Mang Sakim Sugra. In fact, Sugra then make the experiment by moving pentatonic tones of gamelan to guitar strings are pitched diatonic.

Therefore, song-song (Kiser) Dermayonan and Cerbonan which typically accompanied by gamelan, can be beautiful with guitar accompaniment. "The beauty of the rose more complete after the passage strings bamboo flute accompanied by a lilting," said Supali.

The strains of guitar and bamboo flute which presents Dermayonan and Cerbonan Kiser began infecting around 1930s. At that time, young children in many remote villages in the district of Indramayu and Cirebon regency, accepting it as a lifestyle.

Even in 1935, Tarling music also comes with a soap box that serves as a drum, and the jug as a gong. Then in 1936, the strains Tarling equipped with other instruments and ketipung a small basin that serves as percussion.

Sugra and his friends were often invited to perform at celebration parties, though without any honorarium. Typically, the stage that was just a mat-lit patromak (at night).

Do not stop there, no matter Sugra tarlingnya complete performances with drama performances. The drama that conveys it is about everyday life that occur in society. Finally, play-act like a born-Saeni Saida, Pegat Balen, and Inner Lair is so legendary to this day. In fact, Saida-Saeni play ended tragically, always drain the tears of his audience.

Not only Sugra, in Indramayu district also emerged a series that catapulted his name Tarling down to various remote areas. Among the names that are Jayana, Raden Sulam, Carinih, Yayah Kamsiyah, Hj Dariah, and Dadang Darniyah. In the decade of 1950's, in Cirebon regency appear tarlig character named Uci Sanusi.

Later in the decade of the 1960s, emerged other figures in the arts arena Tarling, namely Abdul ajib originating from the village, North Cirebon district, Cirebon Regency, and Sunarto Marta Atma, Jemaras Village home, District Klangenan, Cirebon regency.

Tarling art today is already almost extinct. "However, Tarling forever will not be separated from the history of coastal communities and Cerbon Dermayon coast," said Supali.