Inspired by Greek antiquity, French musicians of the seventeenth century looked to Turkish culture as a "living model" of Greek musical ideas. Among the similarities of Turkish music to Greek music are monophonic and heterophonic texture, tetrachordal constructions, and microtonal tunings. Turkish affects also provided a significant amount of exoticism and novelty, which were sought by musicians and audiences. Turkish art songs, such as those composed by Süleyman Celebi, inspired French attempts at transcription of Turkish music in the seventeenth century, and several aspects of Turkish military music and Janissary bands influenced composition at the court of Louis XIV. In fact, the French tradition of using drum signals to assemble troops was borrowed from the Turkish military tradition. The Sun King went so far as to appoint Lully as director of military music in order for his martial ensembles to compete with Janissary bands. Turkey was also used as a model of ancient music practices in the Parallèle of Charles Perrault.

Works: Lully: Thesée (379-80); Sébastien de Brossard: Marche pour les Turcs (379-80), Marche des Janissaires (379-81).

Sources: Suleyman Celibi: Melvidi Sherif (368-71).

Index Classifications: 1600s

Contributed by: Randy Goldberg