Final answer:
Ottoman compositions were specific about instruments for each piece, reflecting the unique janissary military music tradition with instruments like the zurna and davul. The Ottoman empire also showed Persian influences in the arts and developed a significant instrumental tradition for court and theater.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compositions in the Ottoman tradition were indeed quite particular about the instruments used in their performance, reflecting a rich cultural heritage in music. The janissaries, who were a distinct military class within the Ottoman empire, greatly influenced the music of their time. As part of their distinctive identity, the janissaries had their own form of music known as mehterân, which utilized instruments like the zurna, a type of oboe, and the davul drums. This music played a significant role during military campaigns, both for its psychological impact on the enemy and for the morale of the troops. The composition and orchestration in such Ottoman music were highly specific, possibly specifying which instruments should play each piece, in a manner that might be less prescribed in European traditions of the time.
In a broader sense, the Ottoman empire exhibited a variety of cultural influences in its music, with Persian literary and artistic styles leaving an imprint as observed in works like the Suleymanname. Instrumental music developed considerably during this period, both for court consumption and within the context of a growing theatrical tradition. This included dance music that was often improvised around familiar motifs and served the demands of the court as well as entertainment for the masses.