The Ney In Turkey:
In Turkey the ney has a long history that is associated with the
spiritual practices of the Mevlevi order in Sufi Islam. The ney is an
important to the fasil or Turkish art music. Prior to the arrival of
Islam in Turkey musicians called kam, baski or saman would walk around
with their flute performing music. This type of ney is distinguished by
a mushroom shaped cap affixed over the instrument. Ney's are named
according to pitch. A set of 11 ney are currently available.
The Ney In Iran:
In making the ney the traditional material has always been arundo donax
(wild cane or giant reed). The ney is selected from a piece of arundo
donax that is no less then three years of age. It is the distance
between each each node that determines the pitch and quality of the
ney. As with their Turkish counterparts Classical Arabic neys are
available in different lengths and they usually have six finger holes
and a thumb hole.
Name: Ney > Nai > Qasaba (in North Africa).
Type: Bevelled Flute > Aerophones.
Regions: Many > Middle East.
Dimensions:
Acquisition Date:
Acquisition Source: Randy Raine Reusch.
Description: The
ney is an open ended, bevelled oblong flute and one of the most ancient
surviving wind instruments of the aerophone family. It is known by many
alternate names including nai, nay or qasaba. The ney is played
throughout the middle east and Turkey. Where as in Central Asia it is
played by the Persians, Uigurs, Uzbeks, Karakalpaks and Tajik peoples.
There are many regional names for this instrument. In North Africa the
name qasaba is often used instead. Documented evidence of the long
continuous history of the nay dates back to the Pyramids of Pharonic
Egypt. This includes descriptions and paintings of the ney that have
been found on Egyptian tombs that date back as early as 300 to 2500
years B.C. A Sumerian pallet dating back 3000 years B.C. Displays a fox
playing a nay like flute for the ibex and giraffe displayed at the
Ashmolean Museum in Oxford England. In the 1920s An archeological dig
produced a silver ney like flute uncovered in the royal palace of Ur
(located in modern day Iraq). Similar types of flutes to the ney are
played amongst some Ethiopian tribes. Ney's are the only wind
instrument used in Classical Arabic music. During concerts musicians
would select different lengths of ney throughout their performances.
Popular or folkloric neys can be made from a variety of materials
including wood or metal and they do not conform to the same standards
as Arabic classical neys.
Citations: Bibiolography: New Grove Dictionary of Music book G to O page 751 Nay > Web Sites: Neyzen.com > neyatolye.com > Sadaqa-music.com (Instruments) > Asza.com -Ney (Egyptian).