DESCRIPTION:
Mehter Band since 1300s and still alive in 21st century. First historical record of Mehter or such military band was in the era of Beyliks of Anatolia which also Ottoman Beylik (roughly equivalent to European "duchy") was a member of. But it is accepted by many historians that it originates from ancient Hun (Xun, Kun, Khun, Qun, Kuñ, Quñ) Turks and medieval Turkic Khaganate (Türk Kağanlığı) of AD 500s.

Succession of Turks (greatest Turkic empires that shaped modern-day Turkish people and other Turkic peoples, among other hundreds of Turkic khaganates, khanates, atabeyliks, beylerbeyliks, beyliks and shadlyks):

Scythia (Saka) [BC 1000s - BC 209],
Hunnic Empire (Xiongnu) [BC 209 - AD 469],
Göktürk Empire (Turkic Khaganate) [552-744],
Uyghur Khaganate [744-840],
Avar Khaganate [567-804],
Khazar Khaganate [650-1048],
Cumania [900-1220],
Karakhanid Khaganate [840-1212],
Ghaznavid Empire [962-1186],
Khwarazmid Empire [1077-1231],
Genghisid Khanate [1206-1368],
Seljuk Empire [1037-1308],
Golden Horde [1236-1502],
Timurid Empire [1370-1507],
Mughal Empire (Babür Empire) [1526-1857],
Ottoman Empire [1299-1923],
Turkia (Turkey) [1923-...].
Before conversion to Islam, Turks had an ancient pagan religion named Tengri, sometimes cited as national religion of Turks (Altaic peoples). Through the history, pre-Islam and after converted to Islam (AD 1000s), Turks protected their traditions generation to generation, the ancient Turkish or Turkic culture (which are same in Turkish language as "Türk") effect showed itself in so many other cultures. Even those cultures who embraced those colors from ancient Turkish/Turkic civilization, don't know the root of their tradition or any other thing. Turks, even reformed some important things for themselves in Islam according to their previous original religion Tengri, even other (non-Turkish/Turkic) Islamic peoples affected by Turkish/Turkic Islam tradition. For example, crescent symbol evolved from arrow and bow tamgas (symbols) on old flag of Turkish Ottoman tribe named Kayı or Kai. And later it used as Islamic sign everywhere. For another example, before conversion to Islam, whole Altaic nations, except Mongols, Japanese and Koreans, known as "Turk", even Magyars (Hungarians), an Uralic nation who heavily affected by Turks, named as "Tourkia" (wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourkia) at the time, which means "Turkey". Greek sources say "Western Tourkia" to the Hungarian principality, also known as "Magyars", and "Eastern Tourkia" to Khazars (wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars), Khazars which are a Turkish empire ruled ancient Scythian lands between 600s and 1000s. Khazars also was tolerated empire just like Ottomans, there were various religions under the Khazar rule just as Tengri, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Manicheanism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism etc. Also it is known that some of Khazar rulers were Judaic/Jew. Another important point you have to know about that, unfortunately today, that great Turkish/Turkic world (Turkia or Turkistan) falsely known as Mongolia with the effect of great Genghis invasion through the feudal statelets/counties, affects the European history. Turks, an originally nomadic and warrior nation, were commanders, leaders and rulers everywhere from Pannonian Basin (Avars or Oghurs/Uyghurs/Oghuz) to Tarim Basin (Uyghurs), from Siberia to Egypt (Baybars), from Carpathia (Bolgar Khanate) to Iran (Scythians, Akhuns, Kushans, Ghaznavids, Seljuks, Timurids, Safavids, Afsharids, Kajars) and India (Bâbür/Mughals), throughout the history, every age of the history, but unfortunately, the effect of lack of written sources, by the effect of nomadic and warrior culture, so many things are heavily falsificated in today's history lessons around the world now are under the European effect. Today's European intellectuals, with narrowmind effect of heavily feudal and caste background unlike Turks, with openmind effect of heavily imperial/ruler and tribal (no caste system) background, are really trying hard to understand ancient Türk rule around the world in every age, and easily falsificate it. But even so little part of known written sources show us everything, every Türk rulers around the world were told as Türk, Törög, Török, Törük, Türük, Turuk, Turk, Truk, Trak, Trach, Tauric, Taur, Tur (Turhan/Tyrhen), Etrur, Etruch, Etrusc, Fruch, Frug, Frig, Phryg, Yuruk, Yürk, Yörük etc.