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The duduk, a reflection of the soul of the Armenian people
The duduk, a reflection of the soul of the Armenian people
The duduk, or Tsiranapogh (apricot tree flute), is an Armenian wind instrument. Once a shepherd's flute, it is considered to be one of the oldest wind instruments. It is said to have been mentioned for the first time in cuneiform inscriptions from the Urartan Kingdom (Kingdom of Van), so the history of the doudouk goes back more than 3,000 years.
The duduk is made from the wood of the apricot tree "Prunus armeniaca", which grows in Armenia. The sound of apricot wood is both soft and powerful. The instrument is between 28 and 40 cm long. It has eight holes at the top for playing and one or two for the thumb on the opposite side. This musical instrument has a velvety, delicate and soft timbre.
The double-reed is made from Caucasian reed. The best reeds in Armenia are found on the banks of the Araxe river. Unlike other double-reed instruments, the body of the duduk is quite wide, giving it a uniquely nostalgic feel. This instrument has several tones depending on its length.
Played most often in orchestras of folk instruments, at events such as weddings and funerals, accompanying Armenian songs and dances, the duduk is now attracting great interest from musicians and composers all over the world. It has also become a popular musical instrument in world cinema. (The Last Temptation of Christ, Gladiator, Ararat, Avatar, Mayrig, Va, vis et deviens, The Da Vinci Code, Zena, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Russian films such as The Russian House, The Crow and Onegin, etc.).
Master duduguists include Djivan Gasparyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, Sergey Karapetyan, Mkrtich Malkhasyan, Vache Hovsepyan, Karapet Yeghoyan, Margar Margaryan, Levon Madoyan, Sargis Davtyan and many others.
In 2005, the Armenian duduk and its music were recognised as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage.