Gorbunova M.Yu. Mehter Millitary Band in the Ottoman Miniatures

Abstract: The subject of the present research is the historical millitary orchestra Mehter depicted in Ottoman miniatures of the 16th - 18th centuries. The illustrative material consisting of 25 samples of Ottoman miniatures depicting the musicians of the Mehter band located in archives and museums of Turkey served as the empirical base of the research. In accordance with the objectives the author has reviewed and analyzed images of the band in the millitary campaign scenes, ceremonial rites, as well as in the scenes of the palace festivals and celebrations. In her research Gorbunova has used the historical and semiotic methods as well as the field survey. The scientific novelty of the work is caused by the fact that based on the Ottoman miniatures for the first time there the author has conducted a semiotic analysis of the composition of the orchestra, used musical instruments and identified the role and place of Mehter in the cosmos of Ottoman Turks. The study revealed that Mehter millitary band has a special place in Turkish culture, being one of the dominant features of the spiritual space of the Turkic world. During the military campaigns the orchestra does not only set up the army to victory but also plays the role of a certain religious talisman, "shield" that protects the Sultan and his army. During the court events orchestra seems to guide a higher power at ceremonies and rituals occupying a middle position between the divine and the earthly. Thus, Ottoman miniatures are not only a chronicle of Ottoman history but also represent the Turkic cosmos formed by the religious vertical and ethnic nomad horizontal. The results of the study will be useful in the preparation of lectures on Turkic studies, cultural studies and art history.

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