Italo Selvelli
Encyclopedia
Italo Selvelli was an Italian composer, pianist and orchestra director, who lived and worked in Istanbul
during the last decades of the Ottoman Empire
.
in 1863. His parents were Michele Selvelli (Fano, Italy, 1825 - Istanbul, 1895) and Maria Sigalla (Syros, Greece, 1838 - Istanbul, 1904). Italo Selvelli attended the Royal College of Music of Palermo
between 1876 and 1881.
Since 1887 he was active in conducting operas, operettas and ballets at the Nouveau Theatre and Concordia Theatre of Istanbul. Throughout his life he also practised as a music teacher for several members of the Ottoman aristocracy.
On 16 June 1889 he married Anna Maria Pussich (1866-1954), a Croatian citizen, who gave him two sons and two daughters.
In 1891 Italo Selvelli was appointed director of the orchestra and the music school of Tophane in Istanbul, the first non-military band of the Ottoman empire, founded by Zeki Pasha.
In 1909, when Sultan Reshad came to the Imperial throne with the name of Mehmed V
, an open competition was called for deciding the new official march of the Sultan. To be chosen was Italo Selvelli's polyphonic composition, since then known as the "Resadiye March". This march was actually the last official personal march of a Sultan in the history of the Ottoman Empire, as the following and last Sultan Mehmed VI
, who ascended the throne in 1918 in a difficult political situation, refused to adopt a personal march.
Italo Selvelli died on 11 May 1918, probably because of an anthrax
infection. His tomb is still visible in the Osmanbey Christian Cemetery of Istanbul.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
during the last decades of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
Biography
Italo Giovanni Selvelli was born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1863. His parents were Michele Selvelli (Fano, Italy, 1825 - Istanbul, 1895) and Maria Sigalla (Syros, Greece, 1838 - Istanbul, 1904). Italo Selvelli attended the Royal College of Music of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
between 1876 and 1881.
Since 1887 he was active in conducting operas, operettas and ballets at the Nouveau Theatre and Concordia Theatre of Istanbul. Throughout his life he also practised as a music teacher for several members of the Ottoman aristocracy.
On 16 June 1889 he married Anna Maria Pussich (1866-1954), a Croatian citizen, who gave him two sons and two daughters.
In 1891 Italo Selvelli was appointed director of the orchestra and the music school of Tophane in Istanbul, the first non-military band of the Ottoman empire, founded by Zeki Pasha.
In 1909, when Sultan Reshad came to the Imperial throne with the name of Mehmed V
Mehmed V
Mehmed V Reshad was the 35th Ottoman Sultan. He was the son of Sultan Abdülmecid I. He was succeeded by his half-brother Mehmed VI.-Birth:...
, an open competition was called for deciding the new official march of the Sultan. To be chosen was Italo Selvelli's polyphonic composition, since then known as the "Resadiye March". This march was actually the last official personal march of a Sultan in the history of the Ottoman Empire, as the following and last Sultan Mehmed VI
Mehmed VI
Mehmet VI was the 36th and last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1918 to 1922...
, who ascended the throne in 1918 in a difficult political situation, refused to adopt a personal march.
Italo Selvelli died on 11 May 1918, probably because of an anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
infection. His tomb is still visible in the Osmanbey Christian Cemetery of Istanbul.
Other sources
- Archives of the Osmanbey Cemetery of Istanbul