The Turkish Armed Forces' Ottoman Military Band, known as "Mehter" in Turkish, has participated in the Spasskaya Tower Festival, an international military music event held in Moscow, Russia.
The festival's audience enjoyed the Turkish group's rendition of "Katyusha," a Russian wartime song about a girl longing for her absent love, which gained popularity during World War II.
The Mehter Unit's distinct marching style and vibrant costumes also caught the audience's attention.
Founded after the Anatolian Selçuk Emperor Giyasettin Mesut II sent a special horn team to Ottoman Empire founder Osman Gazi in 1289, Mehter is considered to be the forefather of military bands in the world.
The Mehter band consists of six different instrument groups, including the zurna (shawm), boru (horn), nakkare (kettle drum), zil (cymbals), davul (drum) and kös (larger kettle drum), as well as members of the chorus.
The Spasskaya Tower Festival, which takes place in Moscow's Red Sqaure in front of the Kremlin, is considered to be one of the largest military music festivals in the world.
With over 1,400 participants, the event showcases performances by 30 groups from 14 different countries, as well as 10 Russian bands.
The festival will continue until September 3, and the Mehter Unit is scheduled to have 12 performances throughout the course of the event.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
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