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Turkish crescent

The Turkish crescent was an important instrument of European Janissary bands, and it was adopted by British Army military bands in the late 18th century. It is an ornamental percussion instrument equipped with bells and jingles that is held vertically and played with shaken or twisting motion. The ornamental designs, which include hair tassels, are emblems of the battlefield. This example is a German style that has a stem composed of a large bell on bottom, two half-moon shaped arms, a central sun, and terminates in a eagle perched on lightning rods. Small bells and six-pointed stars hang from the main bell and the arms. It has three tassels (two missing) suspended on the top arm and eagle beak. The wooden shaft and suspension strap are missing. It was purchased by the Royal Military School of Music for display purposes. Golden strip of metal cast acorn leaves around the bell flare. Half-moon arms with eagle-head finials. Cast nickel-silver sun with central eight-pointed star. Top stem with beaded rods. Eagle on top with spread wings, perched on a transverse rod that has four lighting bolts as finials. Three long, bi-colour (natural and blue) hair tassels (two missing).

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  • Inscriptions:Paper label sticker: LYRA-Musikhaus am Kiepenkerl, 44 Münster (West F) Ruf 43077
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:111.242.222 (Sets of) clapper bells
  • Repository:Museum of Army Music
  • Measurements:Height: 2190mm; Width: 841mm