For thousands of years, Wind instruments like “Mait” or “Monaulos” in Hellenistic Egypt, “Auloi” in Anatolia, were commonly played and were quite popular.
In Asia, the center of civilization, different cultures passing through history Took these instruments, shaping them according to their own cultural tones.
What is the Mey instrument?
Mey, is an ancient double-reed wind instrument, which has been used in the Anatolian and Mesopotamian regions for centuries. Its body is typically made of a plum tree or an apricot tree, which are commonly found in the region. On the front side, it has 7 holes, while on the back side it has a single hole. In order to play the mey, a double-reed called the ‘Kamish’ is placed on the instrument. When the mey is not being used, the mouthpiece is stored in a dry place, and a ring closes it for later use, in order to prevent it from expanding.
There are 7 holes on the instrument’s front, and its tonal range is 1 octave. The mey is not a very versatile instrument. You can’t play all kinds of musical genres and scales due to its limited tonal range.
Known as the ‘mey’ in Anatolia and Mesopotamia, it takes different forms in the geographical triangle of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. Azeri people will call the instrument “Balaban”, while the Armenians call it “Duduk” and the Georgians “Duduki”. These three instruments look and sound pretty similar to each other, but the shape of instrument and the reeds is quite different.
As the reeds, the part that affects the color of the instrument’s sound, are different, the tones of these instruments also slightly differ. When the mey is played, it sounds roaringly and powerful. When Balaban or duduk or duduki is played, the sound is much more misty and smooth, which leads the audience to a more mystical atmosphere.
Erhan Tekin is one of the first names to come to mind in the world of duduk and mey artists. He explains this tonal difference as follows: “We as musicians describe this tonal difference with a metaphor. The reed of the duduk is a feminine reed, it is misty and smooth. The roaring, powerful, heartache-like sound of the mey makes it a masculine reed. Mey reed is a masculine reed.”
Its interesting to see how in various regions of the East, different cultures shaped and named the mey instrument differently.
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Turkey |
Mey |
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Azerbeijan, Iran, Uzbekistan |
Balaban |
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Daghistan |
Yastı Balaban |
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Georgia |
Duduki |
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Armenia |
Duduk |
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Japan |
Hichiriki |
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Korea |
Hyanpiri |
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China |
Guanzi |
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Kyrgyzstan |
Kamis Sirnay |
When referring to mey, Erhan Tekin is definitely the most recognized artist in both Turkish Folk Music and Kurdish Music. Additionally, he is also a master player of the Balaban and duduk. For example, the song “Dogu Ekspresi” from his album “Demans” released in 2010 by Kalan Müzik, in which he plays duduk masterfully, takes the listener on an outstanding journey through the realms of the east. Each time I listen to the song, I make the journey, again and again, feeling excitement and nostalgia at the same time.
Furthermore, another important name in the world of masters of mey and duduk in Turkey is Emre Sınanmış. In Armenia, there is Djivan Gasparian, a duduk master worth listening to. In Turkey, he collaborated with the grand guitar virtuoso and the founder of fretless guitars Erkan Ogur in his 2001 album Fuad, by playing duduk in his album.
In Azerbaijan Alihan Samedov, who is one of the leading Balaban virtuosos in the world, wrote the book “The Balaban Method”, which earned him various prizes. He uses local Azeri motifs in his music, which adds authentic flavors to his pieces.
Here I am leaving you with different videos of these amazing virtuosos of mey, Balaban, duduk, and duduki, for a joyous musical experience.
Multi-instrumentalist, oud lover and an expert in Arabic & Turkish musical instruments. Founder of Ethnic Musical, working with luthiers across Turkey, Armenia, and beyond since 2009 to make fine handmade Turkish & Arabic musical instruments.
Daniel Karni