The Oldest Military Orchestra in the World Performed in Zenica

The oldest military orchestra in the world Mehter, which is also called the “janissary music”, is the name for the military orchestras that accompanied the janissary units in their military campaigns. Mehters appeared in 1453 on the foundations of a long tradition of using music for military purposes, which existed in the early Turkish, as well as in the Islamic culture.

The uniforms worn by members of the orchestra are very colorful and characterized by large caps flattened on top and long gowns. The largest and most important mehter was the Sultan mehter or TablU Alem-i hassa, consisted of nine players of each instrument.

The choir that the Zenica residents had the opportunity to hear and see is made up of 90 members. The parade went down the street of Maršal Tito, and began a concert in front of the Bosna shoping mall. The location was decorated with the flags of Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and appropriate gifts were handed out by the volunteers of the association “Bridges of Friendship”.

(Source: nap.ba)