COMPOSER OTTOMAN SULTANS

The sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who ruled three continents, received extensive training from their childhood, that is, from their princes to the throne. Many of the princes and sultans who were raised with great care in the fields of military, geography, politics, culture and art were poets, writers and even composers.

Did you know that the sultans were so competent in the field of music that they composed waltz and even discovered maqam?

Among the Ottoman sultans, the sultan who is most mentioned with his interest and talent in music is Selim III. He brought 15 modes to Turkish music, including Pesendide, Evcara and Suz-i Dialara. In addition, Selim III is a sultan who blows the ney and plays the drum with great skill. At the beginning of the 19th century, Sultan Mahmut II turned to western music and his 26 works have survived. Apart from these examples, there are many sultans and dynasty members who were personally interested in music during the Ottoman period, and the first known composer was Bayazid the 2nd.

You can listen to these special works from the album "European Music from the Ottoman Palace" released in 2000 by Emre Arac. In addition to the waltzes composed by Sultan Abdulaziz and Murat V, anthems and unknown compositions are also included in this album. Also, in this album are Osmaniye and Aziziye anthems from the period of Donizetti Pasha's Mecidiye and Guatelli Pasha.

You can also visit the Aynalıkavak Pavilion Music Museum, which hosted the compositions of Selim the 3rd, and closely witness the interest of the sultans in music.