Bektashi Dervish and Spiritual Founder of Galatasaray, Gül Baba, was commemorated at the Atatürk Cultural Center, with the valuable work of the Gül Baba Tomb Heritage Preservation Foundation, as part of the Beyoğlu Cultural Road. Gül Baba Symphonic Poem, composed by Azerbaijani composer İlyas Mirzayev, had its Istanbul Premiere on the 481st anniversary of Gül Baba's death. At the end of the performance performed by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and directed by Orchestra Conductor Naci Özgüç, Gul Baba Tomb Heritage Preservation Foundation President Adnan Polat and Hungarian Ambassador Viktor Matis thanked composer Mirzayev, Istanbul Symphony Orchestra and conductor Özgüçwith an award for their contributions.

The spirituality of Gül Baba, the symbolic name of the close friendship between Turkey and Hungary, continues to be preserved and passed on to future generations through the work of the Gül Baba Heritage Preservation Foundation. Gül Baba Symphonic Poem, composed by Azerbaijani musician İlyas Mirzayev and included in the scope of Beyoğlu Cultural Road with the initiatives of Adnan Polat, President of Gül Baba Heritage Foundation, had its Istanbul Premiere on Saturday, June 11, at Atatürk Cultural Center. The leading names of the business, art and sports world attended the special show performed by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the conductor Nazi Özgüç. The performance, attended by Atatürk Cultural Center Artistic Director Remzi Buharalı, received great applause from the audience, and at the end of the night, Foundation President Adnan Polat and Hungarian Ambassador Viktor Matis thanked Mirzayev, Özgüç and the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra with a special award.

Gül Baba is a former Ottoman / Bektashi Dervish who lived in the 16th century. Gül Baba, who has an important place in the formation of Turkey's close relations with Hungary, pioneered the establishment of the building known as Galata Palace in the 15th century as Mekteb-i Sultani with the idea of educating sultans and princes. The building, which turned into an educational institution under his direction and took its current name, Galatasaray High School over time, also led to the emergence of Galatasaray, one of the biggest clubs in Turkey. Gül Baba, who is considered the spiritual founder of Galatasaray by the Galatasaray Community for this reason, passed away on the expedition to Budin, where he went with the Ottoman Army and Suleiman the Magnificent.

The symphonic poem about Gül Baba's life, composed by the Azerbaijani composer İlyas Mirzayev, begins with rose gardens. The work has a scenario that tells about the preparation of Suleiman the Magnificent to go on the Budin Expedition, the moment of war, and his death as he lost his life. While describing only the physical departure of the dervish from the world, it also underlines his life views, deep philosophy and ideology.

About Gül Baba: Gül Baba is a Bektashi dervish who accompanied the Ottoman Army during the expeditions to Europe during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror. The term “rose” in his name indicates that Gül Baba was a dervish who knew God deeply and transcendentally, and a spiritual rank based on the Sufi traditions of his time.

Gül Baba came to Budin in 1541 with Suleiman the Magnificent and the Ottoman Army. According to legends, he died on Thanksgiving, which was held in honor of the conquest of the city on September 2, 1541. When Gül Baba, a respected dervish among the Ottomans, passed away, he was buried on a hill near the old Baruthane neighborhood on the Danube River in northern Budin, and Suleiman the Magnificent attended his funeral. A tomb was built on his grave by the 3rd Budin Governor, Yahyapaşazade Mehmed Pasha, between 1543 and 1548.