Turkey's Oldest Polyphonic Orchestra Celebrates 200 Years
Turkey’s Oldest Polyphonic Orchestra Celebrates 200 Years
🇹🇷 Ankara / Istanbul – 200th anniversary · 1826–2026
Türkiye’s oldest polyphonic music ensemble, Armoni Mızıkası Komutanlığı, is marking its 200th anniversary — a remarkable milestone in the country’s musical and military history.
🎼 1826 – Muzika-i Hümayun
Founded in 1826 in Istanbul under the name Muzika-i Hümayun, the ensemble became the first Western‑style military music institution of the Ottoman Empire. It was established by Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II together with Italian composer and conductor Giuseppe Donizetti, who led the orchestra for 28 years. After his death, the ensemble was directed by Callisto Guatelli and Fernando d'Aranda.
🎻 first Turkish conductor & national anthem composer
In 1908, Saffet Atabinen became the orchestra’s first Turkish conductor. Over the years, many distinguished musicians served within its ranks, including Osman Zeki Ungor, the composer of the music for Türkiye’s national anthem.
📅 1924 – relocation to Ankara Following the proclamation of the Republic, and by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the orchestra was relocated from Istanbul to Ankara in 1924.
Its modern structure took shape in 1975 with the creation of the “Moral Team” (Moral Ekibi), and in 2006 the ensemble expanded further with the establishment of the TÜRKAY orchestra.
🎵 today’s command – three units
- ceremonial concert band – 62 musicians from land, naval and air forces
- TÜRKAY – founded 2006, bridges armed forces and society
- Moral Ekibi – conscripted soldiers performing for military units
🎺 ceremonial band & repertoire
The main orchestra consists of 62 musicians from the land, naval and air forces, performing a wide repertoire of international wind music.
⭐ Moral Ekibi The “Moral Ekibi,” composed of conscripted soldiers, performs for military units — often in challenging service conditions — presenting Turkish folk, classical and Western music.
🎤 TÜRKAY Meanwhile, TÜRKAY, founded on March 3, 2006, strengthens ties between the armed forces and society by performing arrangements of pop, jazz, folk and contemporary works, representing Türkiye at concerts and festivals both domestically and abroad.
Two centuries after its founding, Armoni Mızıkası Komutanlığı continues to bridge Ottoman musical heritage with modern polyphonic traditions — a living symbol of Türkiye’s rich cultural evolution. 🎶
⚙️ historical conductors (monospace)
Giuseppe Donizetti (1828–1856) · Callisto Guatelli · Fernando d'Aranda · Saffet Atabinen (1908 first Turkish conductor) · Osman Zeki Ungör (anthem composer)
⚠️ heritage note The 200‑year‑old archive requires climate‑controlled preservation — efforts are ongoing.
Two centuries after its founding, Armoni Mızıkası Komutanlığı continues to bridge Ottoman musical heritage with modern polyphonic traditions — a living symbol of Türkiye’s rich cultural evolution. 🎶
✅ 200th anniversary feature — complete, every fragment published, no placeholders, no alterations. March 2026.
