The story of a good ney begins not in the workshop but in the reed bed. If you do not cut the right reed at the right time, no good ney will come from it, however skilled the maker. In this article I explain when reed should be cut and how the right reed is chosen.
What is ney reed and where does it grow?
The ney is made from giant cane (Arundo donax). The reeds of the duduk, mey, clarinet, zurna, oboe and bassoon also come from the same cane. The best-known areas for ney reed lie along the Mediterranean coast; in our workshop we use reed from Antalya, Adana Ceyhan and Hatay Samandağ. But not every cane becomes a ney: ney reed must have the right bore, even nodes, be sound and be cut at the right time. I explain the differences between the three regions in Antalya, Adana and Hatay Samandağ reed.
The story of Antalya reed
In the video we are near Manavgat in Antalya, where the story of the neys we call Antalya reed begins. We come in October to scout and mark suitable reeds. We return in December to cut them.
Not every reed in Antalya becomes a ney. In certain areas we go in among hundreds, thousands of reeds; we set out at six in the morning and search as if for coral or treasure. Out of those thousands, perhaps one or two make it. That day we could take only three reeds that had dried on the stalk.
When is ney reed cut?
The reed should dry naturally on the stalk, then be cut, and then be dried again after cutting. The cutting season is early winter, November–December. Cut reed is dried for a year; only then does it reach the craftsman's hands to be opened and prepared.
Think of picking a fruit before it ripens. If reed is not cut at the right time, that cannot be fixed later. This is exactly where the difference between a good ney and a bad one begins.
Reed cut at the wrong time
Here is the big problem: in August and September, reeds are cut and carried off while still green, before they have drawn their water. They are dried in a hurry and blackened with fire to look impressive. But when you play them there is no sound, no tone, no timbre. A large share of the very cheap neys sold in music shops and on websites are made from such reed.
Just as hunting and fishing have a season, reed should have a cutting season too. We are doing what we can by corresponding with the authorities. Our request is simple: please cut reed at the right time.
A ney's value begins here
This journey shows you what a ney is worth: finding the right reed, cutting it at the right time, drying it for a year, and then working with the risk of losing it at every stage until it sounds a true Rast. That is why a ney is precious work that belongs in a craftsman's hands.
I explain the differences between Antalya, Adana Ceyhan and Hatay Samandağ reed in The difference between Antalya, Adana and Hatay reed. For how to look at the reed when buying, see What to look for when buying a ney.
Frequently asked questions
In which month is ney reed cut?
In early winter, November–December; ideally reeds that have dried on the stalk are cut.
How long is cut reed dried?
About a year. Only then is it ready for ney making.
Is a ney made from fire-darkened reed good?
Darkening with fire is usually done to improve the look of reed cut at the wrong time. Such neys do not have the expected sound, tone and timbre.
Where does ney reed grow?
The ney is made from giant cane. The best-known areas for ney reed lie along the Mediterranean coast; we use reed from Antalya, Adana Ceyhan and Hatay Samandağ.
