Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan

The Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan (Türkmenistanyň Ýaragly Güýçleri Harby Orkestr) is the primary military band of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. The band is led by Major Muhammet Akmuhammedowyň and the band's chief composer is Major Nurygandym Khodzhamukhammedov. Many of the members of the band have attended the Turkmen National Conservatory. The band is organized and is under the command of the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan.

Bands in the service are affiliated with the following units:


 * Ashgabat Garrison
 * Türkmenabat Garrison
 * Serdar Garrison
 * Ahal Garrison
 * Mary Garrison

Origins
The central band was formed in 1992 in Ashgabat based on the Band of the 52nd Army of the Soviet Union's Turkestan Military District.

Role in the Turkmen Armed Forces
The band's task is purely ceremonial in purpose, with its primary role being to play the State Anthem of Turkmenistan during solemn occasions. It is similar in style to college marching bands in the United States, as well as marching bands located in Russia. The massed bands of the military band service are notable for their finale performance at military parades in the capital, in which they work together to form specific shapes and Turkmen symbols.

The band takes part in the following events:


 * The band also takes part in state welcoming ceremonies with the guard of honour at the Oguzkhan Presidential Palace and the defense ministry.
 * Awards ceremonies hosted by the President of Turkmenistan in honor of distinguished Turkmen citizens.
 * Graduation ceremonies at military academies
 * Concerts involving the band with, on some occasions, foreign military bands and or Turkmen singers/artists.
 * Public musical festivals and military tattoos held on Turkmen and foreign soil.

Holidays

 * January 12 – Memorial Day
 * January 28 – Defender of the Motherland Day
 * February 19 – State Flag Day
 * May 9 – Victory Day
 * October 9 – Day of the Navy
 * October 27 – Independence Day Parade

Instrumention
The combined bands, as well as the individual bands in the service are different from their Russian and Central Asian counterparts in that they put wind instruments such as the Clarinet in the front of the band, whereas other bands in the region prioritizes trumpets over others. Inspired by U.S. college bands, the band maintains a group of musicians with Tenor drums and Cymbal who are arranged in a formation similar to Drumlines. Other than traditional brass and wind instruments, the band also uses traditional Turkmen instruments, such as the Dutar and the Gijak.

Some of the ceremonial music that the service utilizes includes the Presidential Fanfare, Niyazov's Honour March and Slow March of the Turkmen Flag (usually played during military parades during a flag procession).

Audio

 * Slow March
 * Slow March of the Turkmen Flag
 * Turkmen Presidential Fanfare