Ottoman Military Band (Mehter)

Dafne

History

● Often called janissary music● The mehter first started playing for the

Ottoman Sultan (13th century)● Military marching band● Served to spread news from the state

as well● Classical european composers were

inspired by mehters (Alla Turca compositions)

In The Battlefield

● Would play to instill courage in the soldiers

● The music would accompany the men into battle

● The music was also meant to intimidate the enemy

● The stealing of the mether was a sign of military defeat

Today

● Oldest military band ● Ceremonial● Reminder of Turkey’s past ● Today’s mehters play newer

compositions● Mehter Troop: the band of the Turkish

armed forceso performs a the Military Museum (Istanbul)

Instruments

● kös● nakkare● davul● zil● kaba zurna● boru● çevgan

Members

çorbacıbaşı: Leader of the band

(üsküf - headdress)

Flag bearer; Standard bearers

Çevgan players

Members

Kös player Davul players Zil and nakkare players

Members

Kaba zurna players Boru players

● Six layered (altı katlı)

● Seven layered (yedi katlı)

● Nine layered (dokuz katlı)

Characteristics

● Shrill sounds ● Stand in a crescent shape formation● Classical Turkish music (peşrev, semai,

nakış, cengiharbi, murabba and kalenderi.)

● Turkish Folk Music● The Mehterhane write the melodies

and lyrics

Musical Examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOHnzo6nOQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlleTMH8TtMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOfib-2r9I

Works Citedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_military_band http://www.theottomans.org/english/campaigns_army/mehter.asp http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,35169/janissary-mehter-music.html http://www.turkishculture.org/music/military-mehter-86.htm