chaldo - 3-17-2007 at 05:41 PM
Hi everyone, I will be in Syria this summer for some archaeology, anyone knows where I can get great quality nays?
thanks
Hatem_Afandi - 3-17-2007 at 07:26 PM
Hi Chaldo,
I do suggest that you contact Samir Siblini in Lebanon. He can provid you with TOP quality nays. I heard he is expensive, but it is money well spent
if you are an avid player. I have his number somewhere.
You may contact me at hatem_afandi@yahoo.com
If you are getting to it, you just need a dokah (the main Arabic nay) and a nawa.
Below is a link to my nays:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/hatem_afandi/album/576460762351348904
Here is a link to an excellent nay book by the late Mahmoud Effat. It comes with an exercise CD
http://www.xauen-music.com/xauen-music/adSearchBook.php?author=Mahm...
If you read Arabic, here is a copy of the book. However, I do recommend the book because of the CD.
http://home.att.net/~maged.k.mikhail/effatpag.htm
Good luck,
Hatem
chaldo - 3-18-2007 at 10:36 AM
Thank you for the links and the contact.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to Lebanon. I will absolutely need some place in Syria. I guess I will ask around.
I am new to the nay, what are the caracteristics of a good quality nay? I heard of the tuning... how may I test if the tuning is good or not? I mean
while being in on the spot...
Your neys are amazing, you may play them in health.
thank you for you help.
chaldo
Hatem_Afandi - 3-18-2007 at 11:55 AM
Hi Chaldo,
My pleasure!
I am glad that you are getting into this wonderful instrument.
What I look for when I buy a nay is:
- Thickness and the diameter of the bamboo. The reed must be thick and heavy. The diameter must be large.
- The bamboo should be aged and well-dried. This is easily identified by color.
- The bamboo should be "clean" with no scratches and cracks!!!!!
- The nay should not be hard to play (or blow). You should be able to get at least three registers without exerting any effort.
You may buy a chromatic tuner(e.g. Korg) and make sure that the ALL notes coming from the first register of the nay are correct.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-CA30-Chromatic-Tuner?sk...
A main arabic set is comprised of 7 flutes. The Rast (C), the main nay, Dokah (D), Bosalik (E), Geharkah (F), Nawa (G), Hussaini (A), and Agam (B)
You will have to oild the flutes periodically in order to get proper and "cleaner" sounds from each one. The best oil is Sesame. However, I used other
types like walnut and extra virgin olive oil and got good results.
Below is a Turkish website that contains a lot of information about the care for the nay. Notice the quality of the bamboos in the illustrations.
http://www.neyzen.com/english.htm
I visited Syria on 1997. The AL Hamedeyeah Souq has a few shops that sell ouds and nays. However, I don't recommend it because it is more of a tourist
area and the quality of the instruments is not that good.
Maybe it is a good place to ask around.
I am not sure whether Samir Azar (in Homs) will be a good lead. I would ask him for some guidance if I were you. He is a real decent person and a
great artist. I am sure he will help if he can.
Good luck,
Hatem