Leyla Saz
Encyclopedia
Leyla Saz, also called Leyla Hanimefendi in her time, was a Turkish
composer
, poet and writer.
Born in 1850 in Istanbul
to a family of Ottoman aristocrats
of Cretan Turkish
origins, she was the daughter of İsmail Hakkı Pasha, (often called Hekim İsmail Pasha (İsmail Pasha the Doctor). She spent her childhood in the Dolmabahçe Palace
, where she took private lessons in French
, and later in ancient Greek
and theology
, when her father was the Ottoman governor of Crete
.
She married Giritli Sırrı Pasha
, a high-ranked Ottoman administrator of Cretan origin and a poet of his own right. In line with her husband's appointments, she traveled across Anatolia
and the Balkans
. She settled in Istanbul after the death of her husband in 1895, and kept in close relations with the Ottoman Palace. In 1873, she mothered a son named Vedat
, who became a notable architect.
As of 1895, she dedicated herself to poetry and music, in both the Turkish and Europe
an schools. She took piano
lessons and hosted people of art and science in her mansion.
She composed more than fifty songs, the texts of which were written by her contemporary romantic poets. Her songs are strong in technique, emotional and closely faithful to the traditions of Ottoman classical music
.
Leyla Hanım also proved to be an expert in prose and published her memoirs, which explained in plain details the inner life and stories of the Ottoman palace, which have been translated, among other languages, into English
.
She adopted the surname "Saz" (Turkish for "musical instrument") in the frame of the 1934 Law on Family Names in Turkey. Apart from being a notable composer in the tradition of Turkish classical music, she is also, through her memoirs written towards the end of her life, one of the primary first-hand sources available to historians on the Ottoman
harem
, in the late-19th century context of that institution.
She died in 1936 and was interred at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery
in Istanbul.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, poet and writer.
Born in 1850 in 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...
to a family of Ottoman aristocrats
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
of Cretan Turkish
Cretan Turks
The Cretan Turks, Turco-Cretans , or Cretan Muslims were the Muslim inhabitants of Crete and now their descendants, who settled principally in Turkey, the Levant, and Egypt as well as in the larger Turkish diaspora.After the Ottoman conquest of Crete...
origins, she was the daughter of İsmail Hakkı Pasha, (often called Hekim İsmail Pasha (İsmail Pasha the Doctor). She spent her childhood in the Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval in which Yıldız Palace was used.- History :Dolmabahçe Palace...
, where she took private lessons in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and later in ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, when her father was the Ottoman governor of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
She married Giritli Sırrı Pasha
Giritli Sirri Pasha
Giritli Sırrı Pasha was a 19th century Ottoman administrator and man of letters of Turkish Cretan origin.He was born in 1844 in Kandiye, Crete, Ottoman Empire as the son of Helvacızade Salih Tosun Efendi...
, a high-ranked Ottoman administrator of Cretan origin and a poet of his own right. In line with her husband's appointments, she traveled across Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. She settled in Istanbul after the death of her husband in 1895, and kept in close relations with the Ottoman Palace. In 1873, she mothered a son named Vedat
Vedat Tek
Mehmet Vedat Tek was a notable Turkish architect, who has been one of the leading figures of the First Turkish National Architecture Movement.-Early life and career:...
, who became a notable architect.
As of 1895, she dedicated herself to poetry and music, in both the Turkish and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an schools. She took piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons and hosted people of art and science in her mansion.
She composed more than fifty songs, the texts of which were written by her contemporary romantic poets. Her songs are strong in technique, emotional and closely faithful to the traditions of Ottoman classical music
Ottoman classical music
Ottoman classical music developed in Istanbul and major Ottoman towns from Skopje to Cairo, from Tabriz to Morocco through the palace, mosques, and sufi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Ottoman music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
.
Leyla Hanım also proved to be an expert in prose and published her memoirs, which explained in plain details the inner life and stories of the Ottoman palace, which have been translated, among other languages, into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
She adopted the surname "Saz" (Turkish for "musical instrument") in the frame of the 1934 Law on Family Names in Turkey. Apart from being a notable composer in the tradition of Turkish classical music, she is also, through her memoirs written towards the end of her life, one of the primary first-hand sources available to historians on the Ottoman
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...
harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
, in the late-19th century context of that institution.
She died in 1936 and was interred at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery
Edirnekapi Martyr's Cemetery
The Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery is a burial ground located in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It consists of an old, historical part and a modern one....
in Istanbul.