Tunes from a sultans's diary: Musical performances and musicians in the Rüznames of Mahmud I (R. 1730-1754)

This thesis examines the musical elements in the rûznâmes (the records of the sultan’s daily activities) of Mahmud I (r. 1730-1754) who occupied the Ottoman throne for nearly a quarter of a century. The examination foregrounds the question of whether these records provide data on and can be useful in writing the history of Ottoman music. Based on the references to music in these sources, this study contributes to our understanding of Istanbul’s musical landscape in the first half of the 18th century. Furthermore, it describes the characteristics of this music and the musical practices of this certain period, along with Ottoman music more generally. The first chapter analyzes musicians’ profiles in and around the Ottoman court according to their socio-cultural and occupational backgrounds; officers, artisans, mosque singers, Sufis, and non-Muslims. The following chapter focuses on the music in the rûznâmes. It details of the genres of music and instruments that the sultan listened to, illuminates Mahmud I’s musical tastes, and the musical genres and the instruments that were popular in the first half of the 18th century. Finally, the third chapter explores the locations where the musical performances for the sultan took place. It also tries to shed light on Mahmud I’s Mevlevî inclinations