Tarling: modern music from Cirebon

This article examines tarling, a post-independence musical theater tradition from Cirebon that fuses local storytelling with Western instrumentation, especially guitar and suling miring. Despite its modern origins, tarling retains ritual aspects and narrative themes rooted in older traditions such as wayang kulit and Panji tales. The article outlines its ensemble structure, spiritual elements, audience reception, and evolving dramatic sources, illustrating tarling's role in shaping contemporary cultural identity in urban Cirebon.