Tamburi Ali Efendi (also spelled ''Tanburi'' or ''Tambouri''), (1836–1902) was a
Turkish tambur
The ''tambur'' (spelled in keeping with TDK conventions) is a fretted string instrument of Turkey and the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. Like the ney, the armudi (lit. pear-shaped) kemençe and the kudüm, it constitutes one of the fou ...
virtuoso and composer, one of the most famous among 19th-century composers, who was also notable for having greatly contributed to
Tamburi Cemil Bey
Tanburi Cemil Bey (1873, Istanbul – July 28, 1916, Istanbul) was an Ottoman tanbur, Turkish tambur, yaylı tambur, kemençe, and lavta virtuoso and composer, who has greatly contributed to the ''taksim'' (improvisation on a makam/maqam) ...
's development in music.
Ali Efendi was born in
Midilli (now
Mytilene
Mytilene (; el, Μυτιλήνη, Mytilíni ; tr, Midilli) is the capital of the Greek island of Lesbos, and its port. It is also the capital and administrative center of the North Aegean Region, and hosts the headquarters of the University o ...
) in 1836. His education, both in Mytilene and, after 1854, in
İstanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_in ...
, was religious. He was soon remarked thanks to the beauty of his voice and his virtuosity in playing the tanbur and, upon the sultan
Abdülaziz's personal instructions, was taken in employment in the palace, where he spent 23 years of his career. It was during this period that he met
Tanburi Cemil Bey
Tanburi Cemil Bey (1873, Istanbul – July 28, 1916, Istanbul) was an Ottoman tanbur, Turkish tambur, yaylı tambur, kemençe, and lavta virtuoso and composer, who has greatly contributed to the ''taksim'' (improvisation on a makam/maqam) ...
, then an adolescent, and became his tanbur teacher. He quit the palace in 1885 and started living in İzmir. He died there in 1902 after having greatly contributed to the city's musical scene.
He is considered one of the most lyric composers in Turkish classical music.
1836 births
1902 deaths
People from Mytilene
Turkish classical composers
19th-century people from the Ottoman Empire
Turkish tambur players
Composers of Ottoman classical music
Composers of Turkish makam music
Male classical composers
19th-century male musicians
Musicians from the Ottoman Empire
{{Turkey-musician-stub