KUDSI ERGUNER MASTER OF THE MEVLEVI NEY

Enquiries: [email protected]. Tel 07887 506848.

Further details www.clarendonevents.org.uk

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The ney, which is a reed flute, the principal instrument of the whirling dervish brotherhood, held such importance that the Ney player was considered the second most significant figure in the hierarchy of the order Mevlevî (the disiples of Djalāl ad-Dīn Rûmî, 13th century). This respect was due to the Mathnawî , the great collection of poems by Rumi.
For the disciples, Rumi himself described the state of those inspired by God through the metaphor of the Ney.

"The ney is like a reminder of the awareness of the precariousness and the ephemeral nature of our existence."

Kudsi Erguner Ney (1952)

Master of the Ney, musician, composer, and internationally renowned scholar

Born into a distinguished family of musicians, Kudsi Erguner received a traditional

oral transmission of Ottoman classical music from his father, Ulvi Erguner, a master

of the ney (reed flute) and a leading figure in Ottoman Sufi music. As the only Turkish

musician of his generation to receive such direct training, he absorbed a deep and

authentic musical heritage, shaped by centuries of tradition.

Through his participation in various Sufi brotherhood gatherings, Erguner also

underwent spiritual and musical training. He took part in the first performances of the

Whirling Dervishes’ ceremonies in Europe and the United States, and was a member

of the Istanbul Radio Orchestra.

In 1973, he moved to Paris, where he studied architecture and musicology, earning

both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. His concert tours across Europe, the United

States, and Japan brought Ottoman classical and Sufi music from Istanbul to

Western audiences, raising significant awareness of this rich musical tradition.

In Turkey, Erguner formed various ensembles dedicated to reviving neglected and

nearly forgotten musical styles, which had been marginalized by the country’s

modernist reforms. As an artistic advisor to major festivals, and a record producer for

several European labels, he has played a major role in the restoration of these

traditions, both internationally and in Turkey.

With over 130 CDs released across Europe, the U.S., Japan, and Turkey, Kudsi

Erguner has created an extensive discography showcasing not only his authentic

interpretation and creativity, but also offering a broad overview of Ottoman and

Mediterranean musical heritage.

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