Osman Paşa Marşı - 19th Century Turkish Military Music

"Osman Paşa Marşı" (Osman Pasha March) is a march composed by Rıfat Bey to honour Gazi Osman Paşa. It was first harmonized and performed in multiple voices by Guatelli Pasha, with the recording performed by the Odeon Orchestra on December 1908. The march is featured as the 20th track on the album titled "Osmanlı Marşları" (Ottoman Marches) released by Kalan Müzik on November 15, 1999.
Rıfat Bey was born in Istanbul in the year 1820. His father was Tanburi Keçi Arif Mehmed Ağa, and his mother was Hatice Hanım, the eldest daughter of Dede Efendi. At a young age, he received education in the Enderûn, which was the educational center of the Ottoman palace. He was chosen among the musâhibs, who were officials close to the Sultan. He served as the chief muezzin of the palace, the master music teacher of Enderûn, and the ser-hânende (chief musician) of the Fasl-ı Hümayun, the Sultan's musical ensemble. He held the position of director for the Turkish Music section of the music center in the palace. Rıfat Bey, who was a Mevlevi, had a very beautiful voice. He was the composer who first used the Muhayyerkürdi mode. Around two hundred and eighty of his compositions have reached the present day.