Rast Mevlevi Ayin-i Şerifi

Hicâz Mevlevi Ayin-i Şerifi

Uşşak Mevlevi Ayin-i Şerifi

Çârgâh Mevlevi Ayin-i Şerifi

KUTBÜ'N-NÂYÎ OSMAN DEDE

(1642/1652?- 1729/1730)

Nâyî Osman Dede was born in 1652 in Istanbul. In his youth he became a dervish and joined the Galata Mevlevi Lodge under the sheikh Gavsi Dede in 1672. He learned Arabic and Pharsi there, as well as how to blow ney (reed flute). It is unknown who taught Osman Dede to play the ney. His position at the Galata Mevlevi Lodge as a ney player (neyzen), and his involvement in the music scene of Istanbul helped him to become one of the best of his time. His master level is shown by the fact that he was often called the "Kutbu'n-nâyî" ( a title reserved for the best ney player of that time).  In 1680, he became the neyzenbashı [the chief nay player, who is also the chief of all the musicians] and served in that position for eighteen years, and in 1698, after Gavsi Dede 's passing, he became the sheikh of the dergâh (dervish convent). After being a sheikh for thirty-three years, he passed away in 1729 or 1730 and was buried at the same Mevlevihane’s (Mevlevi lodge) graveyard.  

Aside from music, he was also involved in Islamic mysticism, literature and calligraphy. Nayî Osman Dede is considered to be one of the most important Turkish ney players of all time. Though it is known he developed a new notation style and notated many works, this collection has been lost. In addition to compositions, he wrote a music dictionary and a book about the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). He also wrote poetry under the pen names “Nâi” and “Osman”.

“Miraciye”, a work composed by Nâyî Osman Dede, is considered to be his masterwork (he wrote both the music and lyrics). The topic of Miraciye is Prophet Muhammed’s (pbuh) ascent to heaven (mirac). Roughly half of this piece has been lost. With it’s one hundred and twenty-two remaining couplets, Miraciye is still the longest known composed piece of Turkish classical and religious music. Among his other musical works, there are four Mevlevi rituals (in the makams of Rast, Uşşak, Çârgâh and Hicaz), a number of secular and religious peşrevs and saz semais, and one yürük semai.

** Mevlevi Ayini/ âyîn-é sharîf: Of all the forms of Turkish music, both religious and classical, this is the highest form. It consists of four sections. Each division is known as a selâm. The Mevlevi ayini, known formally as the "Ayin-i Serif," (Noble Ceremony) must not be confused with the Mevlevi sema. The ayin is the musical form that accompanies the Mevlevi sema (whirling prayer ceremony). The sema, on the other hand, is the turning zikr performed by the semazens (ritual turners) with in a strict discipline. As a whole, this is called the "Mevlevî Mukabelesi" (mukabale: lit. facing, reciprocations).