teenager Cansu Turan innovating traditional Turkish ney instrument in classical music
In the heart of Turkey, a young woman named Cansu Turan is making waves in the world of Classical Turkish Music. With a passion for the ancient reed flute, the ney, Turan aspires to share its beauty with the global audience, shattering the barriers that have long kept women out of the ney world.
Turan's journey with the ney began at the tender age of 14, when she first picked up the instrument under the guidance of ney master Yavuz Kenarda in her hometown of Eskişehir. Her love for the ney and her interest in Sufism have been the driving forces behind her determination to excel.
The ney, an instrument known for its delicate sound, presents unique challenges. Its internal tuning system is less fixed than many Western instruments, requiring subtle changes in how the instrument is blown and fingered to achieve accurate pitch. Achieving a clear tone initially can be challenging, with some beginners taking months just to produce a proper sound. In performance, whether solo or ensemble, the player must be highly sensitive to intonation and timbral consistency.
Turan, a ney virtuoso, has mastered these challenges. She prefers ney flutes crafted from reeds harvested in the Samandağ district of Hatay, known for their superior quality. Her dedication and skill have earned her recognition, as she successfully passed conservatory entrance exams in 2021, ranking first at both Istanbul Technical University and Haliç University. This year, she completed her formal education at Haliç University's Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Turkish Music.
Turan's journey, however, has not been without obstacles. She encountered gender imbalance in the ney world, with women players being rare. During her conservatory years in Istanbul, she recalled hearing discouraging remarks such as "Women cannot be ney players." These remarks only served to fuel her determination, causing her to hold onto the ney even tighter.
Turan's goal is not just to master the ney but to inspire other women who wish to play the instrument but have not yet found the opportunity. She actively performs at various concerts and events in her hometown of Eskişehir, hoping to inspire the next generation of female neyzen (ney players).
Turan emphasizes the importance of promoting the ney while respecting its traditions and sound quality. She advocates for greater inclusion of women neyzen in the artistic community, believing that female audience members often feel joy seeing women perform on the ney.
As Turan continues to break barriers and share the beauty of the ney with the world, her story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for women everywhere who aspire to make their mark in the world of music.
[1] Source: "The Ney: Its History, Technique, and Challenges" by Dr. Ahmet Karaman, Journal of Turkish Music Studies, vol. 23, no. 2, 2021.
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