marching bands

Turkish Military Music

Serkan KIZILTEPE

* The Origin of Turkish Military Music

* History of TAF Military Band Schools

* Military Band Instruments

* Military Bands in Turkish Armed Forces

* Missions of Military Bands

* Conclusion

Contents

The Origin of Turkish Military Music

The first usage of music for military purposes goes back

to very old times. Ottoman Military Bands are thought to

be the oldest variety of military marching band in the

world.

The Origin of Turkish Military Music

Today, Mehter Troop (Mehter Bölüğü)

is the band of the Turkish Armed

Forces and it performs at the Military

Museum (Askeri Müze) in Istanbul

Turkish Military Music

The different varieties of bands are classed according to the number of instruments

and musicians employed: either six-layered (altı katlı), seven-layered (yedi katlı), or

nine-layered (dokuz katlı).

Mehter Members

Leader of The Band (Çorbacıbaşı)

Mehter Members

Flag and Standard Bearers

Mehter Members

Cevgani

Mehter Members

Kös

Mehter Members

Drum (Davul)

Mehter Members

Nakkare and Cymbal (Zil ve Nakare)

Kaba Zurna

Mehter Members

Boruzen

Mehter Members

Ottoman Military Band

The Ottoman Military Band, Mehter, still plays on special

occasions in Turkey. The band also plays every day

during summer months in Harbiye Istanbul; during winter

months, it performs at indoor concerts. Its largest event

take place on May 29, when celebrating the conquest of

Istanbul.

Ottoman Military Band

After ruling out and

disbanding the Janissary

Corps, Mahmud II invited

some foreign musicians

from abroad to start a

modern music instutition.

Because new army and

mehter was not compatible

each other.

In 1831, Musika-i Humayun

(Imperial Music School)

was founded in Istanbul

and Donizetti was invited to

be head of the school.

1924, with the order of Ataturk, the school moved to

Ankara and it reorganized as Riyaset-i Cumhur

Musiki Heyeti (Presidency Music Commitee). The

Conductor of the Orchestra was Osman Zeki Ungor.

The reorganisation phases of the school

Mızıka Gedikli Sınıfı (Music Sergeant Class) 1930-1939

Askeri Müzik Ortaokulu (Military Music Secondary School) 1939-1952

Askeri Mızıka Astsubay Hazırlama Okulu Military Music NCO Preparatory School 1952-1959

Askeri Mızıka Sınıf Okulu Military Music Branch School 1959-1974

Mızıka Astsubay Hazırlama Okulu Music NCO Preparatory High School 1974-1985

TSK Mızıka Astsubay Hazırlama ve Sınıf Okulu Turkish Armed Forces NCO Preparatory and Branch

Scool 1985-2003

Silahlı Okullar Bando Okullar Komutanlığı TAF Band Schools Command 2003

Military Band Instruments

Marching Band Instruments are wind instruments and percussion instruments.

Wind instruments are woodwind and copper alloy instruments.

Trombon

Horn

Trumpet

Saxophone

Clarinet

Big Flute

Piccolo

Oboe

Fagot

Baritone

Tuba

Drum

Snare Drum

Cymbal

Military Bands in Turkish Armed Forces

Each service has its own Marching Bands.

Missions of Military Bands

Military Bands perform several kinds of domestic and abroad tasks.

Welcoming Ceremonies

Inspection Parades

Oath of Enlistmens

Funerals

Flag Ceremonies

Concerts

National Days

Inside and outside country,

Military Bands go on performing

their assigned tasks devotedly.

Conclusion