Janissary II. [Conclusion]

This is coolbert:

Again, another tidbit from the wiki entry on the elite regular troops of the Ottoman Empire. .

The Janissaries and their music.

Janissary music was an integral part of military operations. In a way unique in the world at the time [1400's]. A band playing military music with a distinctive sound and beat. A band keeping time for the soldiers to march to.

This is called mehter music.

"The military march music of the Janissaries is characteristic because of its powerful, often shrill sound combining davul bass drum), zurna a loud oboe), naffir (trumpet), bells, triangle, and cymbals (zil), among others."

Surprisingly so: "Janissary music influenced European classical musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, both of whom composed marches in the Turkish style (Mozart's Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331 (c. 1783), and Beethoven's incidental music for The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113 (1811), and the final movement of Symphony no. 9)."

Mehter music has been resurrected and is again popular. Troops sing as they march to the beat?

"In 1952, the Janissary military band, Mehter, was organized again under the auspices of the Istanbul Military Museum. They have performances during some national holidays as well as in some parades during days of historical importance."

You too can listen to mehter music. Go to this web site and download some of the distinctive mehter tunes.

Enjoy!

coolbert.