Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of
militaryA military band is a group of personnel that perform musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instrument. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
marching bandA marching band is, in the broadest terms, a group of performers that consist of instrumental musicians and sometimes dance teams / color guard who generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds,...
in the world. Though they are often known by the
PersianPersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is widely spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and to some extent in Iraq and Bahrain, and has a status of official language in the first three countries under different names...
-derived word
mahtar (
مهتر;
mehter in Ottoman Turkish) in the West, that word, properly speaking, refers only to a single musician in the band. In Ottoman, the band was generally known as
mehterân (
مهتران, from the Persian plural
mahtarān), though those bands used in the
retinueA retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite of "retainers."-Etymology:...
of a
vizierA vizier is a high-ranking political advisor or minister, often to a Persian Empire's monarchs such as Shah and Shahenshah. It sometimes refers to ministers and advisors of the Muslim's caliph, or sultan...
or
princePrince, from French "Prince" , is a general term for a monarch, for a member of a monarchs' or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in some members of Europe's highest nobility...
were generally known as
mehterhane (
مهترخانه, meaning roughly, "a gathering of
mehters", from Persian "house of the
mahtar").
Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of
militaryA military band is a group of personnel that perform musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instrument. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
marching bandA marching band is, in the broadest terms, a group of performers that consist of instrumental musicians and sometimes dance teams / color guard who generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds,...
in the world. Though they are often known by the
PersianPersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is widely spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and to some extent in Iraq and Bahrain, and has a status of official language in the first three countries under different names...
-derived word
mahtar (
مهتر;
mehter in Ottoman Turkish) in the West, that word, properly speaking, refers only to a single musician in the band. In Ottoman, the band was generally known as
mehterân (
مهتران, from the Persian plural
mahtarān), though those bands used in the
retinueA retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite of "retainers."-Etymology:...
of a
vizierA vizier is a high-ranking political advisor or minister, often to a Persian Empire's monarchs such as Shah and Shahenshah. It sometimes refers to ministers and advisors of the Muslim's caliph, or sultan...
or
princePrince, from French "Prince" , is a general term for a monarch, for a member of a monarchs' or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in some members of Europe's highest nobility...
were generally known as
mehterhane (
مهترخانه, meaning roughly, "a gathering of
mehters", from Persian "house of the
mahtar"). In
modern TurkishTurkish is spoken as a first language by over 63 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Cyprus, with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and other...
, the band as a whole is often termed
mehter takımı ("
mehter team"). In the West, the band's music is also often called
Janissary music because the janissaries formed the core of the bands.
History
It is believed that individual instrumentalists may have been mentioned in the 8th century
Orkhon inscriptionsThe Old Turkic script is the alphabet used by the Göktürk and other early Turkic Khanates from at least the 8th century to record the Old Turkic language. It was later used by the Uyghur Empire...
, the oldest written sources of the people who would eventually become the
modern TurksThe Turkish people , also known as the "Turks" are defined mainly as citizens of the Republic of Turkey. An early historic text provided the definition of being a Turk as "any individual within the Republic of Turkey; whatever his/her faith or racial/ethnic background; who speaks Turkish, grows up...
. Such military bands as the
mehters, however, were not definitively mentioned until the 13th century. It is believed that the first "mehter" was sent to
Osman GaziOsman I, Osman Gazi or Othman I El-Gazi Ottoman: عثمان بن أرطغرل, or Osman Bey or I.Osman or Osman Sayed II) was the leader of the Ottoman Turks, and the founder of the dynasty that established and ruled the Ottoman Empire...
by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin III as a present along with a letter that salutes the newly formed state. From then on every day after the afternoon prayer; "mehter" played for the Ottoman ruler. The notion of a military marching band, such as those in use even today, began to be borrowed from the
Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
in the 16th century. The sound associated with the
mehterân also exercised an influence on European classical music, with composers such as
Joseph Haydn Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer. He was one of the most important, prolific and prominent composers of the classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these genres...
,
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as...
, and
Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, of the Electorate of Cologne and...
all writing
compositions"Turkish music", in the sense described here, is not really music of Turkey, but rather a musical style that was occasionally used by the European composers of the Classical music era...
inspired by or designed to imitate the music of the
mehters.
In 1826, the music of the
mehters fell into disfavor following
SultanSultan is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. Originally it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", or "rulership", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power"...
Mahmud IIMahmud II
was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdul Hamid I. His reign is notable mostly for the extensive legal and military reforms he instituted...
's massacre of the Janissary corps, who had formed the core of the bands. Subsequent to this, in the mid and late 19th century, the genre went into decline along with the Ottoman Empire. In 1911, as the empire was beginning to collapse, the director of
IstanbulIstanbul is the largest city in Turkey and fifth largest city proper in the world with a population of 12.6 million. Istanbul is also a megacity, as well as the cultural and financial centre of Turkey. The city covers 39 districts of the Istanbul province...
's military museum attempted a somewhat successful revival of the tradition, and by 1953—so as to celebrate the 500-year anniversary of the
Fall of ConstantinopleThe Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire which occurred after a siege laid by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Sultan Mehmed II. The siege lasted from Thursday, 5 April, 1453 until Tuesday, 29 May, 1453 , when the city fell to the Ottomans...
to the forces of Sultan
Mehmed IIMehmet II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446,...
—the tradition had been fully restored as a band of the
Turkish Armed ForcesThe Turkish Armed Forces consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force of the Republic of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard operate as components of the internal security forces in peacetime, and are subordinate to the Turkish Ministry of...
.
Today, the music of the
mehters is largely ceremonial and considered by many Turks as a stirring example of heroism and a reminder of
TurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey
, is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe...
's imperial past.
Today,
Mehter Troop (
Mehter Bölüğü) is the band of the
Turkish Armed ForcesThe Turkish Armed Forces consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force of the Republic of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard operate as components of the internal security forces in peacetime, and are subordinate to the Turkish Ministry of...
and it performs at the Military Museum (Askeri Müze) in Istanbul. See also: The Ministry of Culture Istanbul Historical Music Ensemble
http://www.ittmt.org/mehter_eng.htm.
Structure
The standard instruments employed by a
mehterân are the
kös (a large bass drum resembling the
timpaniTimpani are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper, and more recently, constructed of more lightweight fiberglass. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick...
), the
nakare (a small kettledrum), the
davulA Davul is a large double-headed drum with many names depending on the country and region.-Names:Some names of davuls include:*davul *tapan *tapan, goč...
(a frame drum), the
zil (
cymbalCymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s), the
kaba zurna (a bass variety of the
zurnaThe zurna is a double reed outdoor wind instrument, usually accompanied by a davul in Anatolian folk music. The name is from Turkish zurna, itself derived from Persian سرنای surnāy, composed of sūr “banquet, feast” and nāy “pipe, flute”...
), the
boru (a kind of trumpet), and the
cevgen (a kind of stick bearing small concealed
bellA bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
s). 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).
In the early 19th century the Vizier's personal band included nine each of drums and fifes, seven trumpets and four cymbals.
The costumes worn by the
mehterân, despite wide variance in color and style, are always very colourful, often including high ribbed hats which are flared at the top and long robes wrapped in colourful silks.
Style
The sound of the Ottoman military band is characterized by an often shrill sound combining
bass drumA bass drum is a relatively large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The bass drums are of variable sizes and are used in several musical genres . Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished: the large orchestral bass drum, the smaller kick' drum, and the...
s, horns (boru), bells, the
triangleThe triangle is an idiophone type of musical instrument in the percussion family. It is a bar of metal, usually steel in modern instruments, bent into a triangle shape. Usually held by a string at the top curve.- Shaping :...
and cymbals (
zilZills, also zils or finger cymbals, are tiny metallic cymbals used in belly dancing and similar performances. They are called sājāt in Arabic. They are similar to Tibetan tingsha bells....
), among others. It is still played at state, military and tourist functions in modern Turkey by the Mehter Band and the troops that accompany.
Mehterân usually play
classical Turkish musicOttoman classical music developed in palaces, mosques, and Mevlevi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Classical Turkish Music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
such as peşrev, semai, nakış, cengiharbi, murabba and kalenderi. Most of the music played by
mehterân is Turkish Folk Music with heroic themes from the Ottoman frontiers. Melodies and lyrics are written in Mehterhane (the house of Mehter).
The oldest extant marches were written by Nefiri Behram, Emir-i Hac, Hasan Can and Gazi Giray II in the 16th century.
Well-known composers
| 16th century |
17th century |
18th century |
| - Nefiri Behram |
- Zurnazen Edirneli Daği Ahmed Çelebi |
- Hızır Ağa |
| - Emir-i Hac |
- Zurnazenbaşı İbrahim Ağa |
| - Hasan Can |
- Müstakim Ağa |
|
| - Gazi Giray II. |
- Hammali |
|
"Ceddin Deden"
Though Mehter band played a variety of frontier marches, Ceddin deden is one of the best known
Lyrics
Ceddin, deden, neslin, baban; x2
Hep kahraman Türk milleti.
Orduların, pek çok zaman, vermiştiler dünyaya şan. x2
Türk milleti!, Türk milleti!; x2
Aşk ile sev milliyeti,
Kahret vatan düşmanını, çeksin o mel'un zilleti. x2
which can be translated in English as:
(Seek) Your ancestors, your grandfathers, your generation, your father x2
The Turkish nation has always been valiant.
Your armies, many times, have been renowned throughout the world. x2
Turkish nation!, (O) Turkish nation!; x2
love (your) freedom passionately,
Overwhelm the enemies of your motherland, and thus shall those cursed ones suffer abjection. x2
"Yine de Şahlanıyor Aman"
Lyrics
Gene de şahlanıyor aman
Kolbaşının yandı da kır atı.
Görünüyor yandım aman
Bize serhad yolları.
Davullar çalsınlar aman
Aman da ceng-i ceng-i de harbiyi.
Görünüyor yandım aman
Bize sefer yolları.
Gâhi sefer olur aman
Aman da sefer sefer de eyleriz.
Hazan erişince aman
Aman güzel severiz.
Gül yüzlü yari de aman
Aman da hile ile de sezeriz.
Sefersiz olamaz aman
Aman er evlatları.
See also
- Ottoman classical music
Ottoman classical music developed in palaces, mosques, and Mevlevi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Classical Turkish Music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
- Ottoman imperial anthem
The Ottoman Empire used anthems since its foundation in the late 13th century, but did not use a specific royal or national anthem until the 19th century. During the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, when the military and imperial band were re-organized along Western lines, Giuseppe Donizetti was invited...
- Music of Turkey
The music of Turkey includes diverse elements ranging from Central Asian folk music and music from Ottoman Empire dominions such as Persian music, Balkan music and Byzantine music, as well as more modern European and American popular music influences. In turn, it has influenced these cultures...
- Turkish music (style)
"Turkish music", in the sense described here, is not really music of Turkey, but rather a musical style that was occasionally used by the European composers of the Classical music era...
External links