Hamamizade Ismail Dede Efendi was one of the greatest Turkish composers in the history of literature. He was born in Sehzadebasi neighborhood of Istanbul in 1778. Dede Efendi's fame has endured for two centuries, securing his place in history as one of the cornerstones of Turkish music and culture.
He has created masterpieces in all forms and modes of Turkish music. He has also developed the composite musical modes of "sultan yegah", "neveser", "saba buselik", "hicaz buselik" and "Araban kürdi". His greatest works are the seven Mevlevi pieces for Samah of Dervishes. Of the more than 500 works composed by Dede, only about 280 have survived to this day.