Ney is a wind instrument with a hollow cylinder made from reed. It consists of six knots (gereh) and seven parts (band); this is why it is also called haft-band (seven parts). Its diameter is approximately 1.5 to 2.5 cm and its length ranges from 30 to 90 cm. There are five holes on the lower section of the pipe and one behind it. The two tips of the pipe are usually covered by brass or plastic of 5 cm and the ridge on the upper part of the pipe (where it touches the player's lips) is so thin that it can be placed between the teeth.
Ney is among the wind instruments without a mouthpiece and the tongue plays the major role in producing tunes. To play the instrument, its ridge is placed between the incisors in the corner of the lips and air (breath) is blown into it. Using the fingers of both hands (the ring and index fingers of one hand and the ring, middle, and index fingers of the other hand) the holes are blocked and opened continuously causing a difference in the length and vibration of the pipe and, thus, a change of notes. The tuning of ney can be slightly altered by pulling its tip up and down. However, if for one purpose or another (eg. creating more harmony with the best range of the vocalist's voice or the orchestra), the tuning of the instrument requires alteration as much as half or one tone, neys with longer or shorter pipes may be used. In some cases, quarter or half tone alteration may be achieved by changing the position of the lips, altering the intensity of the air blown into the pipe, or incomplete blocking and/or opening the holes.
The plant from which ney is derived is reed, as previously mentioned, which comprises a hollow stem made up of different parts (band). Ney can also be manufactured from other materials (such as wood, metal, mud, and bone) and is named according to the material it has been derived from. The most common kind of ney, nonetheless, is the original seven-parted ney made from reeds.
Compared to other instruments, ney is one which may be very accessible due to its ease of transportations; also, one can easily produce simple tunes with a warm and pleasant appeal with it. These factors have probably led to its popularity among people. Ney is the language of solitude and the pains of departure from beloved ones. Ney is the companion of shepherds in their hours of loneliness. Ney is to be sought seldom in majestic balls and aristocratic glamour. Accordingly, not much has been documented on this instrument and its great players in the rich literature of the music of Iran. ...