Hacı Arif Bey

Haci Arif Bey (1831–1885) was a Circassian Turkish composer from Istanbul, most known for his compositions in the şarkı form, the most common secular form in Turkish classical music. He was a very prolific composer, who on some days, composed more than six or seven songs. From his third wife Nigârnik Hanım he has four great-grandchildren; Turkish diplomat Reha Aytaman, Şira Arıkoğlu, Okşan Aytaman and Murat Aytaman.