The first Zildjian cymbals were created in 1622 by Avedis Zildjian who was a metal smith and an alchemist. Zildjian was working for the court of the Ottoman Sultan for whom he started producing cymbals for the Ottoman Army. These instruments were made of an alloy of tin, copper and silver and allowed music to be made without shattering. Historians say that Ottoman Army was one of the earliest armies to use music and cymbals made by the Zildjian were adopted with great enthusiasm.
Ottoman Mehter (Military Band) consisting of wind and percussion instruments
Ottoman Army Mehter (Military) Band used music for psychological warfare purposes as well as to motivate Turkish soldiers. Here is a ‘Turkish March’ played by the Mehter Band during the conquest of Belgrade in 1608 in order to create ‘psychological pressure’ on the ‘enemy’ played by Hungarian Kecskes Ensemble. Note that the cymbals are not yet a dominant part of the ‘composition’.
After the discovery of the cymbals, Sultan granted Avedis Zildjian with money but also with a name: ‘Zildjian’, meaning “Son of a Cymbal Maker” or “Family of Cymbal smiths” in Armenian. The family produced not only for the Ottoman Army but also the Sufi dervishes, Greek and Armenian Churches as well as the belly dancers who wore hand cymbals in İstanbul.
The secret of producing cymbals have passed on from one generation of the family onto the other until the family reached US when the Jazz Age was about to take off. Zildjian started producing for Swing and Bebop musicians laying the foundations of the modern drum kit and playing technique.
The Jazz Age of 1920s
Today Zildjian alloy recipe is in the hands of the 14th generation.
But the art of cymbal making did not ‘fully’ leave with Zildjians but stayed in İstanbul where the tradition continues . Now, İstanbul is a brand in cymbal making and it is amazing to learn that each cymbal is handmade and therefore fully unique!
Here is a trailer of the documentary İstanbul’s Voice which is about the İstanbul cymbals! Make sure to check out the documentary.
