What is "medhal"

Medhal is an instrumental form in Turkish makam music or Ottoman classical music. The first piece in Medhal form was composed by Ali Rıfat Çağatay. Most of the Medhal compositions are in short usuls like Sofyan. Two basic forms are used: i) A+B+C+B+D+B+E+B , ii) A+B+C+B, where B refers to the section "Mulazime". This form is similar to Peşrev but is often more free than Peşrev. It is not an old form, but is mainly used in the 20th century.