Mehter Suite

Lee Hartman

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 12:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Ottoman military (mehter) music
Publisher: Ragnarok Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $125.00 | Score Only (print) - $50.00

Movements (may be played individually)

1. Ceddin Deden – 2:20
2. Yinede Şahlaniyor – 3:30
3. Estergon Kal'ası – 3:00
4. Genç Osman – 3:00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II (I doubles C Piccolo II)
Oboe I-II (II doubles English Horn)
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI, including:

Bass Drum
Cevgen
Crash Cymbals
Finger Cymbals
Tambourine
Tam-Tam
Tenor Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The melodies in Mehter Suite are not my own. They were developed over centuries by Ottoman musicians, conquests, and history. As such, I am indebted to these forebears and value their rich, storied legacy. As military songs the original tempo of each would be brisk. While the outer two movements maintain this militaristic precision, the inner two take the most liberties by slowing them down to offer more temporal variety to Western audiences and performers. Counterpoint and harmonies are not intrinsic to nature of the selections but have been added to fit a modern concert band composition.

I highly recommend and encourage anyone playing these selections to listen and absorb the original compositions, to understand their intent, and if desired play the recordings the original tunes before the suite for added interest and more meaningful cross-cultural connections. Samples are available at the Turkish Music Portal.

Thank you to my Turkish composers friends, especially Nihan Yesil, for working with me and offering guidance during the planning and composition this suite.

– Program note by composer

Media

Audio: Mid America Freedom Band (Lee Hartman, conductor) - 25 February 2010

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 24 February 2019 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Ave Maria volgarizzata da Dante (as arranger) (2019)
Concertante (2005)
Concerto for Vibraphone (2009)
Des Monstres et prodiges (2017)
Emerald (2023)
...in fragile bark, o'er a tempestuous sea, the common harbor... (2016)
i/xhale (2017)
Mehter Suite (2019)
Sapphire (2013)
Selections from "The Nutcracker Suite" (as arranger) (2013)
Snow Ride (as arranger) (2022)
Song for Edie (2015)
Toccata and ... (2020–21)
Tornado (2004)
Trobairitz (2019–20)
Winter Night (Sleigh Ride) (as arranger) (2016)

Resources

Lee Hartman website Accessed 21 January 2020