Ottoman Military Band

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Ottoman Military Band of Turkey
By Natalie Pardo

History is full of empires that ruled vast areas. In early history, there were the Athenian Empire and the Roman Empire. Later empires include the British and Ottoman empires. In some cases, the empires were a result of military conquests, while others were a product of territories bonding together. Let us take a look at one facet of the Ottoman Empire.

The Empire
The Ottoman Empire, historically referred to as the Turkish Empire, was a Sunni Islamic state founded in 1299 by Oghuz Turks under Osman I in northwestern Anatolia. This used to be a powerful multinational and multilingual empire controlling much of southeast Europe, western Asia, Caucasus, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa. During …show more content…

The last are oboe-like woodwind instrument with seven holes above and one below).

The Music
The music of the Ottoman band was a symbol of sovereignty and independence, and its ardent sounds instilled the soldiers with strength and courage. The inspiring songs and the loud crashing sound of drums were capable of unnerving the enemy on the brink of battles.

The band has its own unique marching step and it marches behind the orcibasi, the commander of the band, who wears a headdress. At either side of the orcibasi are the bearers of the white and red standards. Behind them are the nine plume bearers. The band master is at the center and behind him are the carriers of the instruments: zurnas, trumpets, drums, and cymbals.

The mehter band members form a crescent to perform and they play while standing except for some members called nakkare players who sit cross-legged at the right-hand tip of the crescent. When they march, the band members stop every three steps and turn to right and left in salutation. They also chant “Rahim Allah, Kehim Allah” (or “Merciful God, Gracious

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