Persian Classical music is based on the rules of the traditional repertoire or radif, which is composed of various modal systems. In Persian, the word "ney" means both the reed and the instrument made from it. Historians consider the ney to be the world’s oldest instrument. Documents going back 5000 years in Egypt and 1400 years in Iran mention the ney.
"I scorn the person who listens to the song of the ney but does not grasp the knowledge and wisdom of the player." Mowlânâ Jalâleddin Rudi (13th c.)