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Bora Gazi Giray II

Bora Gazi Giray II (1554–1607, reign: 1588–1596, 1596–1607) was a Crimean khan of the Giray dynasty, a military commander, a poet (under the pen name Ghazai), a prominent Turkic composer of the 16th century, and a patron of the arts.

Overview

Bora Gazi Giray II occupies a prominent place among the most outstanding Turkic composers of the 16th century and the earliest representatives of Turkic musical classics. Researchers rate his compositional and musical-performing talent even higher than his remarkable literary gift. He is the author of more than 60 preserved instrumental works (including pesrevs) and the creator of a number of classical Turkic and Crimean Tatar modes (makams).

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Musical and performing mastery: According to medieval historians, Gazi Giray II mastered virtually all Turkic musical instruments of his time, valuing most highly the tanbur (a plucked string instrument).
  • Compositional legacy: All of the khan's preserved works (over 60 pieces) are examples of instrumental music (particularly the pesrev genre). His vocal works have not yet been discovered.
  • Creator of musical modes (makams): He enriched the classical Turkic musical system by creating new modes: hüzzam, shaddiaraban, bayatiaraban, gulizar, and muhalifirak.
  • State activity and patronage: He possessed a broad intellectual and scientific outlook (he was interested in the exact sciences) and transformed the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai into the leading center for the development of classical art.