Hammamizade İsmail Dede Efendi: The Sublime Composer of Ottoman Music Part Two

The Favor of the Sultans and Life at Court

Dede Efendi was not only a talented musician but also a counselor and a respected figure in the Imperial Palace, serving three different Sultans:

1. Sultan Selim III (The Musical Patron)

· Along with Sultan Selim III, he was also appointed Müezzinbaşı (Chief of the Muezzins) of the Palace.

2. Sultan Mahmud II (His Most Brilliant Era)

· After the death of Selim III, Dede Efendi continued his service.

· The reign of Mahmud II (1808–1839) is considered the most brilliant period of his life and his career as a composer. His fame grew considerably.

·Recognition: He was rewarded by the Sultan himself with the prestigious Nişan-ı İmtiyaz Murassa’ (Order of Distinction with Jewels).

3. Sultan Abdülmecid I (The Winds of the West)

· Although Sultan Abdülmecid I had an inclination toward Western music and the atmosphere in the palace was becoming “alafrangalaşmıştır” (Westernized), Dede Efendi maintained his position, as the young Sultan deeply respected his legacy and the high regard his father (Mahmud II) had for him.

Personal Tragedy and the Dervish

Despite his professional success at court, Dede Efendi experienced significant personal losses that undoubtedly influenced the spiritual depth of his music:

· Early Loss of Father: He lost his father shortly after entering the Çile in 1798. He sold his father’s hamam (Turkish bath) at that time.

· Loss of his Shaykh: In August 1804, he lost his beloved Sufi master, Ali Nutki Dede, at the age of 42.

· Loss of Children: In 1805, he lost his son Salih, and in 1810, his second son, Mustafa. He married Nazlıfer Hanım from the palace in 1802.

· The Mevlevi Training (Çile): His immersion in the Mevlevi Order was crucial. The training (Çile or 1,001-day retreat) was rigorous and included services such as grooming animals (tımar etmek) and service in the square hall (meydan odası).

Master of Masters

· His role as an educator was fundamental to preserving Ottoman music. Among his most prominent students were: Dellâlzade İsmail Efendi, Eyyubî Mehmet Bey, and Zekâi Dede Efendi.

· It was his students (like Zekâi Dede) and later generations who were responsible for transcribing and publishing his works, ensuring that his vast repertoire was not lost.

There is a Dede Efendi House/Museum, located at Ahırkapı Sokak No:17, Cankurtaran, Fatih, Istanbul. You can visit it and contemplate the life and work of the sublime composer; before this beautiful place was born, this house went through many processes.

Acquisition of the House (1818)

Although the exact details of a formal donation by the Sultan are not clear in the most common records, the context suggests that Dede Efendi was able to afford the house, or it was provided to him, thanks to his privileged position at court.

· Timing: It is known that Dede Efendi moved to this house in the Akbıyık neighborhood (Cankurtaran, near Sultanahmet) around 1818, and lived there until his death in 1846—a period of 28 years.· Economic Context: Dede Efendi served as the court’s musician (Hânende), composer, and flutist (Neyzen), and was appointed Müezzinbaşı (Chief of the Muezzins) by Sultan Selim III, a highly paid and prestigious position.

· Compositions: The fact that he moved from the Mevlevi barracks (where he received the title Dede) to a private residence marks a turning point in his career, where he achieved great fame and wrote a large part of his masterpieces.
It is highly probable that, due to his closeness and status with Sultan Mahmud II, he was able to acquire the house or that it was offered/donated to him by the imperial administration as a reward for his service and genius. At that time, high-ranking court officials often received such real estate.

Post-Ottoman Decline and Abandonment

The house fell into a state of disrepair for a period of almost a century and a half after his death, due to changes in its function and, ultimately, abandonment.

1. Change of Function (Police Station)

· Later Use: After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of the Republic, the building was used for a long period (at least until the late 1970s) as the Akbıyık Police Station (Akbıyık Karakolu).

2. Abandonment and Ruin (1970s)

· Deterioration: Continuous use as a police facility (which does not respect the original architecture of an Ottoman house) and a lack of proper maintenance caused the building to severely deteriorate.

· Abandonment: Finally, in 1978, the structure was so damaged and in such a ruinous state that it was abandoned and fell into disuse (metruk halde).

3. The Restoration

· Fortunately, the historical value of the building was recognized in time.

· In 1984, the Turkish Historical Houses Preservation Association (Türkiye Tarihi Evleri Koruma Derneği) began a comprehensive restoration project.

· The restoration was completed in 1994, and the house was opened as the Hamamizade İsmail Dede Efendi House Museum, honoring his memory and his musical legacy.

This contrast between the splendor of the Ottoman court and the subsequent abandonment is a strong theme you can include in your article.