Turkish crescent
A pole-mounted military band instrument hung with small bells.
What it means
The Turkish crescent, also known as a jingling johnny, is an upright pole instrument fitted with several crossbars carrying numerous small bells, often further decorated with horsehair tassels, crescents, and other ornaments.
It produces no pitched sound in the melodic sense; instead it is shaken while marching or set rhythmically on the ground, so the bells ring out brightly and piercingly.
Musical use
The instrument originated in Ottoman Janissary music (mehterhâne), where it was carried as a symbol of military power. It reached Europe in the eighteenth century through the fashion for 'Turkish music' and was adopted from there as a showpiece by numerous European military bands.
In classical concert music, the Turkish crescent occasionally appears in works aiming for a Turkish-inspired sound; today it survives mainly as a fixed feature of German military and police bands during parades.
The Turkish crescent should be distinguished from a simple bell ring or tambourine, which also carry small bells but are held and played by hand as rhythm instruments rather than carried upright as a standard fixture of a marching formation.
Performance practice
Carry the Turkish crescent upright and move it at marching pace with even, rhythmic motions so the ringing bells stay in time with the band. Shaking it too vigorously makes the sound uncontrolled and blurred.