I'm looking to buy a ney, but I know little about the instrument. From what I've gathered on the net and from other threads, the Arabic (Egyptian) ney is a transposing and transverse wind instrument that comes in various sizes, with each different size representing not only differeing pitch but differing scales/modes. It is capable of producing great variations in pitch and spans a very wide range of notes.
I'm not entirely sure if that info is solid- I'd appriciate it if any ney players could set me straight. If anyone knows of any reputable makers of quality neys who conduct business online, I'd be grateful. Most of the neys I've come accross online appear to be sold through middle-men and have little information about the instrument itself.
In search of a quality ney...
Neys
Hi Cullivan
There are basically three types of neys, Arabic (Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanes, Tunisian etc..), Turkish and Persian. The Arabic and Turkish are practically identical in all aspects (6+1 finger holes - one played by the thumb- and scale), save for a mouth piece that the gives the Turkish neys a mellower and louder sound, however it loses the neys breathy/airy character. Turkish neys tend to be longer (at least the most popular ones).
I buy my Turkish neys from a maker in Istanbul, he sells his instruments on ebay. His name is Rifat Varol, he is well known in Turkey and has a documentary in Turkish, unfortunately, on U tube. I bought three neys from him till now.
I don't recommend buying Arabic neys from ebay, I had bad experiences with many, and the good ones that pop up every once in while are overpriced. I'm Egyptian and I buy my Arabic neys directly from Cairo when i visit. If you ever go there i can give you the contact numbers of a few good makers.
Persian neys are a bit different, they have 5 +1 holes only and are played by a totally different technique than the one used by the Arabic/Turkish neys where you blow across the opening of the ney (vertically). The Persian ney uses an inter-dental technique that is very difficult to master at least in the beginning (you place the opening of the ney between your teeth). Its sound is however very unique.
here are a few links
www.neyneva.com
http://members.shaw.ca/persianney/
http://www.bardoworks.it/ney.html
http://www.neyzen.com
All neys have four registers, with the lowest blowing intensity you get the base note (lets say A), if you go higher and blow stronger the same hole will produce the harmonic fifth of the base note at a higher octave (E). Blowing harder still will give you the base note at a higher octave (A). Blowing harder even further (4th level) you get the same base note in the highest pitch possible (A). So a normal ney with 7 holes - if well made- can give you at least 14 different notes without half holing (some duplicates). Remember that the ney has one hole tuned to a quarter tone, and only produces quarter tones.
I hope that helps
Take care
Hisham
There are basically three types of neys, Arabic (Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanes, Tunisian etc..), Turkish and Persian. The Arabic and Turkish are practically identical in all aspects (6+1 finger holes - one played by the thumb- and scale), save for a mouth piece that the gives the Turkish neys a mellower and louder sound, however it loses the neys breathy/airy character. Turkish neys tend to be longer (at least the most popular ones).
I buy my Turkish neys from a maker in Istanbul, he sells his instruments on ebay. His name is Rifat Varol, he is well known in Turkey and has a documentary in Turkish, unfortunately, on U tube. I bought three neys from him till now.
I don't recommend buying Arabic neys from ebay, I had bad experiences with many, and the good ones that pop up every once in while are overpriced. I'm Egyptian and I buy my Arabic neys directly from Cairo when i visit. If you ever go there i can give you the contact numbers of a few good makers.
Persian neys are a bit different, they have 5 +1 holes only and are played by a totally different technique than the one used by the Arabic/Turkish neys where you blow across the opening of the ney (vertically). The Persian ney uses an inter-dental technique that is very difficult to master at least in the beginning (you place the opening of the ney between your teeth). Its sound is however very unique.
here are a few links
www.neyneva.com
http://members.shaw.ca/persianney/
http://www.bardoworks.it/ney.html
http://www.neyzen.com
All neys have four registers, with the lowest blowing intensity you get the base note (lets say A), if you go higher and blow stronger the same hole will produce the harmonic fifth of the base note at a higher octave (E). Blowing harder still will give you the base note at a higher octave (A). Blowing harder even further (4th level) you get the same base note in the highest pitch possible (A). So a normal ney with 7 holes - if well made- can give you at least 14 different notes without half holing (some duplicates). Remember that the ney has one hole tuned to a quarter tone, and only produces quarter tones.
I hope that helps
Take care
Hisham
Last edited by seifeldin on Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hisham
Ney
Hi again
This website deals with actual ancient Egyptian neys, it has a few sound clips too. Some of the neys found were identical to the ones we still use today.
http://egyptsound.free.fr/fathi.htm#5
Best
Hisham
This website deals with actual ancient Egyptian neys, it has a few sound clips too. Some of the neys found were identical to the ones we still use today.
http://egyptsound.free.fr/fathi.htm#5
Best
Hisham
Hisham