SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Musicologist / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 2

The Relationship Between Musika-i Hümâyûn and Ottomanism in the 19th Century

İsmail Aşkın(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, İSTANBUL CONSERVATOIRE)0009-0000-3867-4543
Abdullah Akat(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, İSTANBUL CONSERVATOIRE)0000-0002-8045-2802
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-12-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results do not aim to explain the idea of Ottomanism completely, but they reveal that its traces can be observed on musical and symbolic levels.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines how the musical transformations that emerged during the modernization process of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century especially the activities of Musika-i Hümâyûn were connected to the idea of Ottomanism.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The research focuses on how the marches composed between 1828 and 1913 and performed by Musika-i Hümâyûn or military bands, were positioned within the identity-building processes of the period.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results do not aim to explain the idea of Ottomanism completely, but they reveal that its traces can be observed on musical and symbolic levels.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Musika-i Hümâyûn · Ottomanism · March

Abstract

This study examines how the musical transformations that emerged during the modernization process of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century especially the activities of Musika-i Hümâyûn were connected to the idea of Ottomanism. The research focuses on how the marches composed between 1828 and 1913 and performed by Musika-i Hümâyûn or military bands, were positioned within the identity-building processes of the period. In this context, the study evaluates whether these marches functioned as a symbolic space that combined cultural elements with the rituals of the modern state. The study was designed as a historical and analytical investigation within a qualitative research framework. Using the document analysis method, archival materials, march scores, newspapers, official publications and secondary literature were reviewed; the data were analyzed through a descriptive approach, considering the social and political context of the time. In the analysis, music is treated not only as an aesthetic field, but also as a form of expression linked to cultural transmission, collective imagination and modern state practices. The findings show that this march repertoire combined local melodic elements with the language of modern ceremonies, supporting the identity discourses of the period. In this sense, the marches can be seen as musical examples with strong representative power that reflect the cultural dimension of Ottoman modernization. The results do not aim to explain the idea of Ottomanism completely, but they reveal that its traces can be observed on musical and symbolic levels.

🔖

Cite This Article

Aşkın, İ., Akat, A. (2025). The Relationship Between Musika-i Hümâyûn and Ottomanism in the 19th Century. Musicologist, Volume: 9 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1832914

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (57)

  1. Akçura, Yusuf. (2020). Üç Tarz-ı Siyaset (Three Styles of Politics). Istanbul: Kırmızı Kedi Publishing House.
  2. Aksoy, Bülent. (1985). “Tanzimat’tan Cumhuriyet’e Musiki ve Batılaşma” (Music and Westernization from the Tanzimat to the Republic). Encyclopedia of Türkiye from the Tanzimat to the Republic. 4: 1212-1236.
  3. Alimdar, Selçuk. (2016). Osmanlı’da Batı Müziği (Western Music in the Ottoman Empire). (First ed.). Istanbul: İş Bankası Cultural Publications.
  4. Anderson, Benedict. (2023). Imagined Communities. (2nd ed.) (Savaşır, İskender, Trans.). Istanbul: Metis Publications. (Original work published 1983).
  5. Antep, Ersin. (2017). Cumhurbaşkanlığı Senfoni Orkestrası: Çoksesliliğin Belgesel Tarihi (Presidential Symphony Orchestra: A Documentary History of Polyphony). Ankara: Elma Publications.
  6. Aracı, Emre. (2007). “Guatelli Paşa: Osmanlı Sarayının İkinci İtalyan Maestrosu” (Guatelli Pasha: The Second Italian Maestro of the Ottoman Palace). Metin And’a Armağan (A Gift to Metin And) Ed. M. Sabri Koz: pp. 285-298. Istanbul: Metgraf.
  7. Aracı, Emre. (2020). Donizetti Paşa (Donizetti Pasha). (2nd ed.). Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Publications.
  8. Arman, Halit Recep. (1958). Tarihte Bahriye Mızıkaları (Naval Music in History). Istanbul.
  9. Aşkın, İsmail. (2025). “Osmanlıcılık Düşüncesinin Sesi Olarak Musika-i Hümâyûn” (Musika-i Hümâyûn as the Voice of Ottomanism). MA Thesis, Istanbul University, Istanbul: Türkiye.
  10. Baydar, Evren Kutlay. (2010). Osmanlı’nın Avrupalı Müzisyenleri (European Musicians of the Ottoman Empire). Istanbul: Kapı Publications.
  11. Berkes, Niyazi. (2024). Türkiye’de Çağdaşlaşma (Modernization in Türkiye). (36th ed.) Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Publications. (Original work published 1973).
  12. Cemil Mes’ud. (2021). Tanburî Cemil’in Hayatı (The Life of Tanburi Cemil). (5th ed.) Istanbul: Kubbealtı. (Original work published 1947).
  13. Davison, Roderic. (2021). Reform in the Ottoman Empire 1856-1876. (First ed.) (Akınbay, Osman, Trans.). Istanbul: Dergâh Publications. (Original work published 1963).
  14. Dumnić Vilotijević, Marija (ed.). (2022). Rukopisna zbirka Jovana Frajta: Fragmenti istorije instrumentalne gradske narodne muzike (Manuscript collection of Jovan Frajt: Fragments of the history of instrumental urban folk music) Beograd: Muzikološki institut SANU.
  15. Emecen, Feridun. (2002). “Kosova Savaşları” (Kosovo Wars). Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation Encyclopedia of Islam, 26: 221-224.
  16. Eriş, Metin. (2002). “Osmanlı Devleti’nde Batılılaşma Hareketleri” (Westernization Movements in the Ottoman Empire). Encyclopedia of Turks, 14: 593-605.
  17. Gazimihal, Mahmut Ragıp. (1955). Türk Askerî Muzıkaları Tarihi (History of Turkish Military Bands). Istanbul: Maarif Printing house.
  18. Hobsbawm, Eric; Ranger, Terence. (2022). The Invention of Tradition (4th ed.) (Şahin, Mehmet Murat, Trans). Istanbul: Agora Library. (Original work published 1983).
  19. İnalcık, Halil. (2018). Devlet-i Aliyye-IV (The Ottoman Empire-IV). (4th ed.) Istanbul: İş Bankası Cultural Publications. (Original work published 2016).
  20. İnalcık, Halil. (2021). Osmanlı ve Modern Türkiye (Ottoman and Modern Türkiye). (8th ed.). Istanbul: Timaş Publications. (Original work published 2013).
  21. Kalan Müzik. (24.10.2015) İzmir Marşı [Osmanlı Marşları 1999 Kalan Müzik]. (İzmir March Ottoman Marches 1999 Kalan Music) [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYQhPrRphkk&list=OLAK5uy_kRqVnICztketk8P-iuXI0ItJfmZnOMdiw&index=6.
  22. Karabekir, Kazım. (2023). İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti (Committee of Union and Progress). (8th ed.) Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Publications.
  23. Karatepe, Şükrü. (2002). “Tanzimat Reformları ve Çelişkileri” (Tanzimat Reforms and Their Contradictions). Encyclopedia of Turks. 14: 716-726.
  24. Karpat, Kemal Haşim. (2017). Osmanlı’da Milliyetçiliğin Toplumsal Temelleri (The Social Foundations of Nationalism in the Ottoman Empire). (First ed.) Istanbul: Timaş Publications.
  25. Karpat, Kemal Haşim. (2021). Osmanlı’dan Günümüze Kimlik ve İdeoloji (Identity and Ideology from the Ottoman Empire to the Present Day). (8th ed.). Istanbul: Timaş Publications. (Original work published 2009).
  26. Kiel, Machiel. (2012). “Travnik” (Travnik). Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation Encyclopedia of Islam. 41: 308-311.
  27. Kozobarich, Steven. (2012). Arapsko Kokojenste (1903). [Video File] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hvh7JykEjg.
  28. Kutlay Baydar, Evren. (2010). Osmanlı’nın Avrupalı Müzisyenleri (The Ottoman Empire’s European Musicians). (First ed.). Istanbul: Kapı Publications.
  29. Lewis, Bernard. (1998). “Tanzimat ve Sosyal Eşitlik” (The Tanzimat and Social Equality) Belleten Journal. 62(234): 577-588.
  30. Mardin, Şerif. (1997). Türk Modernleşmesi (Turkish modernization). Istanbul: İletişim Publications.
  31. Mardin, Şerif. (2008). Yeni Osmanlı Düşüncesinin Doğuşu (The Emergence of New Ottoman Thought). (7th ed.). Istanbul: İletişim Publications. (Original work published 1996).
  32. Oğul, Belma Fatma. (2023). “Selena Rakočević’s Contributions to Southeastern Europe Dance and Music Studies” Conservatorium. 10(1): 87-94. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/konservatoryum/issue/82862/1266649.
  33. Ortaylı, İlber. (2016). Osmanlı’ya Bakmak ve Osmanlı Çağdaşlaşması (Looking at the Ottoman Empire and Ottoman Modernization). Istanbul: Inkılap Bookstore.
  34. Özcan, Nuri. (18.12.2022). Muzıka-i Hümâyun (Imperial Music Orchestra). Retrieved from https://turkmaarifansiklopedisi.org.tr/muzika-yi-humayun.
  35. Özden, Erhan. (2020). Osmanlı Maârifi’nde Mûsikî (Music in the Ottoman Ministry of Education). Ankara: Turkish Historical Society.
  36. Rakočevıć, Selena; Ranisavljević, Zdravko. (2018). “Challenges of Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Nomination File “Kolo, Traditional Folk Dance”“. 3rd. International Music and Dance Studies Symposium 17-20
  37. October 2018. Aslan, Uğur (Ed.). 121-134. Trabzon: Trabzon University Publications.
  38. Pappas, Miltiadis. (2020). “Musiki Dergisi” (Music Journal). Darülelhan Mecmuası. 12: 5-15.
  39. Pennanen, Risto Pekka. (2004). “The Nationalization of Ottoman Popular Music in Greece” Ethnomusicology. 48 (1): 14-16. https://www.jstor.org/stable/30046238.
  40. Sanal, Haydar. (1964). Mehter Musikisi, Bestekar Mehterler, Mehter Havaları (Mehter Music, Mehter Composer, Mehter Melodies). Istanbul: Ministry of National Education Printing House.
  41. Say, Ahmet. (2005). Müzik Sözlüğü (Music Dictionary). Ankara: Music Encyclopedia Publications.
  42. Say, Ahmet. (2019). Müzik Tarihi (History of music). Istanbul: Islık Publications.
  43. Sevim, Acar. (2008). Halk Milliyetçiliğinin Öncüsü Herder (The Pioneer of Popular Nationalism, Herder). Istanbul: Bilge Culture Art.
  44. Tuğlacı, Pars. (1985). Mehterhaneden Bandoya (From Mehterhane to Band). Istanbul: Cem Publications.
  45. Turan, Namık Sinan. (2022). Portede Saklı Tarih (History Hidden in the Port). Istanbul: Istanbul Bilgi Univesity Publications.
  46. Türkmen, Mustafa Nuri. (2009). Osmanlı’da Askeri Müzik Mehter (Military Music Mehter in the Ottoman Empire). İstanbul: Kitaplık.
  47. Üngör, Etem. (1965). Türk Marşları (Turkish Marches). Ankara: Turkish Culture Research Institute.
  48. Yöre, Seyit. (2008). “Osmanlı/Türk Müzik Kültüründe Levanten Müzikçiler” (Levantine Musicians in Ottoman/Turkish Music Culture). Selçuk University Journal of Turkish Studies. 24: 413-437. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/sutad/issue/26266/276706.
  49. ARCHIVAL SOURCES
  50. BOA. C.SM. 147/7373: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Cevdet-Saray, Defter/Gömlek No: 147/7373 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Cevdet-Saray, Folder/File No: 147/7373). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  51. BOA. İ.DH. 474/31789: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Dahiliye, Defter/Gömlek No: 474/31789 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Dahiliye, Folder/File No: 474/31789). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  52. BOA. İ.HR. 304/19308: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Hariciye, Defter/Gömlek No: 304/19308 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Hariciye, Folder/File No: 304/19308). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  53. BOA, HAT, 302/17937: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Defter/Gömlek No: 302/17937 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Folder/File No: 302/17937). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  54. BOA, HAT, 296/17610: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Defter/Gömlek No: 296/17610 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Folder/File No: 296/17610). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  55. BOA, HAT, 319/18701-C.: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Defter/Gömlek No: 319/18701-C (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Folder/File No: 319/18701-C). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  56. BOA, HAT, 306/18059: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Defter/Gömlek No: 306/18059 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Hatt-ı Hümayun, Folder/File No: 306/18059). Istanbul:Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/
  57. BOA, Y.PRK.AZJ, 25/83: Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, Fon: Arzuhal Jurnal, Defter/Gömlek No: 25/83 (Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archives, Fond: Arzuhal Jurnal, Folder/File No: 25/83). Istanbul: Türkiye. https://katalog.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/