Art & Culture
Gembyung
One of the inheritances of Islamic culture in Cirebon is Gembyung Art. This art is the development of Terebang art that lived in pesantren environment. It is said that terebang art is one of the art type which is used as medium to spread Islam in the region of Cirebon and its surrounding. Gembyung art is commonly shown during Islamic religious ceremony such as the commemoration of Maulid Nabi, Rajaban and 1 Syuro activity which is done around religious site. No one knows who has the idead to develop this flying art and when. That which certain is Gembyung art emerges in the region of Cirebon after flying art lived long enough in that area.
Gembyung is musical ensemble which consists of several flying instruments with trumpet that is type of art with the breath of Islam. In spite of that, the reality in the field shows that several Gembyung art was found to be not using trumpet instrument.
After developed into Gembyung, not only shown in the environment of pesantren or Islamic praying sites, but also shown in the environment of whole public. In fact, the frequency of show becomes more and more increasing in the public. And also not only shown in religious ritual (Islam), but also in the event of baby birth, circumcision, marriage and natural cycle ceremony such as ngaruat bumi, hoping for rain, mapag Dewi Sri, etc. In later development, Gembyung is not only as auditif art, but also has become artshow which involving other art elements such as dances.
In several regions of Cirebon, Gembyung art is influenced by tarling art and jaipongan. This can be seen through tarling songs and jaipongan which is oftenly brought in Gembyung shows. Except for Gembyung in Argasunya area, according to Abun Abu Haer notes, an observer of Cirebon Gembyung, which until now still thick in the context of art with Islamic element. This shows that there is still Gembyung art which exists in Cirebon region that is not influenced by the development of its supporting people. Such Gembyung art can be found in the area of Cibogo, Kopiluhur, and Kampung Benda, Cirebon. People who has the merit to maintain it are Musa, Rasyim, and Karya.
Cirebon Gembyung musical instruments are 4 pieces of kempling (kempling siji, kempling loro, kempling telu and kempling papat), Banker and Kendang. Songs which are shown during Gembyung are Assalamualaikum, Basmalah, Salawat Nabi and Salawat Badar. The clothing wore by the players are clothes usually wore for praying such as kopeah (peci), Kampret shirt, white shirt, and sarong.
Source: www.sundanet.com