Niyazi Sayın

Niyazi Sayın — Biography

Niyazi Sayın was born on 12 February 1927 in the Doğancılar quarter of Üsküdar, Istanbul, and was educated at Haydarpaşa High School. He became known as one of the last great representatives of the Istanbul school of ney playing associated with Tanburi Cemil Bey, and alongside music he also worked as an ebru (paper marbling) artist and photographer.

For decades he was closely associated with tanbur player Necdet Yaşar, with whom he performed memorable duets, and he came to be widely regarded as the most important ney player in Turkish classical music. His contribution to the art was recognized with the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award, and admirers referred to him as the "Kutub" (pole star) of ney players. His legacy continued to be honored after his death, including the opening of a ney workshop bearing his name in Bilecik in the summer of 2026.

Sayın died in Istanbul on 8 October 2025 at the age of 98. His passing prompted condolence messages from the President and state institutions, and he was laid to rest following a funeral ceremony at the Sandıkçı Şeyh Edhem Baba Tekke in Üsküdar.