Late Ottoman Empire reforms: the musical policies of Sultan Mahmud II

Abstract

ABSTRACT With the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, European nations made rapid progress in the fields of law, education, culture, army and economics, the fields that constitute the building blocks of states. The Ottoman Empire also embarked on reforms in order to catch up with Europe’s progress. The reforms introduced by Sultan Selim III in a variety of fields were made more comprehensive by Sultan Mahmud II. This study describes Sultan Mahmud II’s policies in the field of music. It reviews the relevant literature and historical documents from the Pera Museum, the Topkapı Palace Museum Archive and the Istanbul Rare Works Library Archive. This study found that Sultan Mahmud II implemented reform policies for music such as abolishing the Mehterhane, establishing the Muzika-i Humayun, using official anthems, hosting foreign musicians, providing members of the palace with education in Western music, having the bands participate in official ceremonies, and encouraging opera and theater.