The arrival in Europe of the fanfares that accompanied the Janissaries (from yeni çeri, young troops) in battle was a memorable event: the volume was unheard of, and the ominous roll of exotic percussion (timpani, drums, cymbals, sticks and rattles), often placed on the backs of elephants or camels, blended with the piercing sound of oboes zurna. It is easy to imagine the shock produced by such a powerful music.