Lights and Sounds of the Orient: French Travellers and Ottoman Music in the First Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

Colbert, the French Minister who founded the School of Oriental Languages in the 17th century promoted also research studies on oriental music which was very fashionable in the 17th century France. Bülent Aksoy, an eminent music analyst, underlines the importance of the travelers’ observations on history of Ottoman music. French travelers referred very often on this particular form of otherness, music, in their travel writings. We will examine the musical impressions of French travelers in four parts: religious music, profane music, dance and military music. In the 19th century, Occidental music appears in the Ottoman Empire, especially in the framework of the Sultan’s military band directed by Donizetti and Guatelli. However the emergence of Occidental music didn’t provoke enthusiasm among the French travelers.