The timpani solo Mehteran by Mark Berry is a meaty work exploring the beginnings of the instrument and the history of the Janissary Corps. Playing some of the oldest known military music, mehterans were the bands of the Ottoman Empire.
This piece is ambiguously programmatic, working its way through seven movements and utilizing a number of different colors while depicting battle, victory, defeat, and more.
The fourth movement requires the player to create a "cevgen" mallet that emulates a Jingling Johnnie, while a few other movements ask the player to create the sound of a davul by playing quiet rimshots.
Difficulty: Medium +
Duration: 15:00 Total
Requires 4 Timpani
