The Silk Road Project | Summer 2008 Newsletter

The ney

The end-blown ney of Turkey and Iran is made from a bamboo stalk and played by resting the end of the instrument against the teeth at the side of the mouth and blowing across the top, so that the teeth and tongue shape the sound. Side-blown neys are made from wood, brass or copper and played by blowing over a hole in the side of the instrument. The ney is often used in the religious music of Islamic Sufism, where it helps to induce a meditative state. Sufi musicians aim to create heavenly sounds through abstract rhythms and patterns of notes, in contrast to the shakuhachi tradition, which typically mimics sounds from nature. The rich, airy sound of the ney has also made it a favorite instrument for folk and classical music.

Inside this issue:

Drawing inspiration from familiar wells: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble return to Japan

A path to passionate learning: The fruits of three years of collaboration at Harvard

Beijing: tale of a “fusion city”

Tell me a story: RISD residency turns artists into performers

A message from the Executive Director: “Hearing new music for the first time is one of the most exciting aspects of our work”

A view from the Silk Road: "With advances in communication and technology, we are more closely interconnected than ever before. What kind of education will prepare students to live on such a planet?"