Kudsi Ergüner

Kudsi Ergüner — Biography

Born on 4 February 1952 in Diyarbakır, Kudsi Erguner is one of the foremost interpreters of traditional Mevlevi Sufi music and one of the world's best-known players of the ney flute. A composer and musicologist who has spent most of his career based in France, he has described himself as a "cultural refugee" living abroad.

Erguner has been recognized as a UNESCO Artist for Peace for his work bridging Sufi music with other traditions, and his compositions have featured in international productions, including the 2000 Spanish film Vengo. He is also the author of the memoir "Ayrılık Çeşmesi," and has spoken publicly about what he sees as the corruption of religious music and the monopolization of Sufi teaching.