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The tablhane (mehterhane)
which is one of the symbols of the emperorship in all Islamic states has
been passed to the Ottoman State by the Seljuk State. In 1299 The Selcuk
Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat III had sent the sancak as a symbol for the beylik
together with drums, etc. |
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From this date
on, which at the same time was accepted as the independence of the Ottoman
State, until the period of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror all sultans rose
while the nevbet was beaten (played) in respect to the Seljuk emperor.
Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror said: "It is unnecssaey to rise in respect
to a sultan who has died two centuries ago." and thus abolished the
tradition of rising while the mehter was playing.
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The mehterhane which for
centuries had exeburated the Ottoman soldiers and instilled fear into
the enemies was abolished by Mahmud II on 15 June 1826 together with the
Janissaries and the other palace corps. Because the Mehterhane was important
a military musical organisation called Mýzýka-yý
hümayun (Royal Band) was established as in Europe.
In 1911 Ahmed Muhtar Pasha and Celal Esat (Arseven) founded a new band
in order to enliven the mehter. This band was organised in 1914 and took
the name of mehterhane-i hakani (Imperial military band). The Mehterhane-i
hakani has been united with the army of the World War I. The Mehterhane-i
Hakani which served in the War of Independence was abolished after the
establishing of the Republic. In 1952 Chief of the General Staff Nuri
Yamut sees the Scottish bagpipe band and he orders to reestablish the
mehter. Today many counties, provinces, municipalities and army have mehter
bands. One of them is the "Istanbul Historical Music Society"
which was founded by the Ministry of Culture in 1992. |
Mehter Today
The mehterhane which for centuries had exeburated the Ottoman soldiers
and instilled fear into the enemies was abolished by Mahmud II on 15 June
1826 together with the Janissaries and the other palace corps. Because
the Mehterhane was important a military musical organisation called Mızıka-yı
hümayun (Royal Band) was established as in Europe.
However this change has only been effective in the cities and only apparently,
in the rural areas and in the sacred existence and heart of the people
who are the basis of the army the drum and zurna, which are the symbol
of the Mehter instruments and bravity have preserved their place always
and until today they have lost nothing of their identity. The mehter has
been reestablished in 1911 by Ahmet Muhtar Pasha and Celal Esat (Arseven).
In 1914 the establishing has been completed and during World War I the
organisation has been included into the army with the order of the deputy
chief commander Enver Pasha.
During the War of Independence the mehter has also served. Until 1935
the Military Museum Mehter Band was playing historical Turkish music,
but at that time the Minister of Defense Zekai APAYDIN deemed it the symbol
of the Sultanate and abolished it because he deemed it inconsistent with
its origins. Just while thinking it was abolished forever, the Chief of
the General Staff Nuri YAMUT had seen the Scottish bagpipe band during
one of his visits to London and after returning home he ordered the historical
mehter band to be reestablished in the Milirary Museum.
After serious researches have been made, in 1953 the mehter band was for
the third time in its history established, this time as six folded, and
brought back to life per chance just by participation to the ceremonies
of the 500th Anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul on 29 May 1953. Within
time the Mehter band was increased to seven and then to eight folds and
with the offer of the manager of the Military Museum Ulvay Sabahattin
DORAS dated 24 June 1968 no Id.Ks.A.0572-3-68 and with the order of the
General Staff dated 10 July 1968 no Hrb.T.0572-1-68 IDA it has
been established nine folded with its original costumes.
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