Haci Arif Bey (1831-1885) was a Circassian Turkish composer from Istanbul, most known for his compositions in the şarkı form, the most common secular form in Turkish classical music. He was a very prolific composer, who on some days, composed more than 6-7 songs. From his third wife Nigârnik Hanım he has 4 great grandchildren; Turkish Diplomat Reha Aytaman, Şira Arıkoğlu, Okşan Aytaman and Murat Aytaman.
Biography
He was born in the Eyüp district of Istanbul. He was taught by the famous Dede Efendi. After Sultan Abdülmecid I became aware of his beautiful voice, he was admitted to the Muzika-yi Humayun, which was the Imperial Military Music School in the Ottoman Empire. Due to his closeness to the Sultan, he was responsible for teaching music to the women in the harem. He fell in love with one of the Circassian concubines, Çeşm-i Dilber, and had two children with her. He composed several songs after she left him for a merchant. His next wife from the harem also met with a death from tuberculosis, also a cause for several songs by Arif Bey. He was elected the head singer in the palace, and married a third time with Circassian Nigârnik Hanım, and stayed with her until his death.
Toward the end of his life, Haci Arif Bey had a fall out with the emperor Abdul Hamid II at the time, and was jailed for about 50 days. While there, he composed several songs, which were later appreciated by Abdul Hamid II, and he was forgiven. He taught at the Imperial Music School for the rest of his life.
Major works
Olmaz ilâç sine-i sad pâreme
Bakmıyor çeşm-i siyah feryâde
Vücud ikliminin sultanı sensin
Meyhanemi bu, bezm-i tarahhane-i cem mi
Çekme elem-i derdini bu dehr-i fenanın
Deva yokmuş neden bimarı aşka
Geçti zahm-i tîri hicrin ta dil-i naşadıma
İltimas etmeye yâre varınız
Gözümden gitmiyor bir dem hayalin
Kanlar döküyor derdin ile dide-i giryan
Hâtırımdan çıkmaz asla ahd u peymânın senin
Sayd eyledi bu gönlümü bir gözleri âhû
Gurub etti güneş dünya karardı
Çözülme zülfüme ey dil rüba, dil bağlayanlardan
Ben buy-i vefa bekler iken sûy-i çemende
Humarı yok bozulmaz meclis-i meyhane-i aşkın
Tasdî edeyim yari biraz da sühanimle
Bir halet ile süzdü yine çeşmini dildar
Esti nesîm-i nevbahar açıldı güller subh dem
References
Who is Who - Hacı Arif Bey (1831 - 1885) Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey - Biography of Hacı Arif Bey