Why did the bass drum become popular in Europe during the craze for Janissary music?

The bass drum became popular in Europe during the 18th century due to a widespread fascination with the exotic sound and military spectacle of Janissary music. Originating from the elite Janissary corps of the Ottoman Empire, this musical style featured a distinctive combination of bass drums, cymbals, and triangles, which produced a strident, colorful, and emphatic sound that appealed to European tastes for exoticism.123

As this style gained popularity across the continent, European composers began incorporating the bass drum—often referred to at the time as a "Turkish drum"—into their orchestral and operatic works to evoke this specific military aesthetic. Its integration into Western music was driven by the desire to replicate the thrilling, rhythmic intensity of Turkish military bands, eventually leading to its permanent adoption as a standard member of the modern orchestra and military band.123