A History

The Duduk is a pipe or oboe type double-reed wind instrument that is also called a tsiranapogh, as compared to a clarinet with a single reed for sound. It's a poignant, melodious instrument that if played correctly sounds very Middle Eastern when played. The Duduk has been in existence since before the birth of Christ, when Armenia dominated the region, which is now shared with Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Ukraine (see Wikipedia Duduk reference).

Duduks are still used in performing traditional Armenian music as well as more dated native compositions. However, today, the Duduk is heard in musical scores and live concerts spanning many continental landscapes and oceans. As proven by this brief list of renowned performers: Chris Bleth (USA); Pedro Eustache (Venezuela South America); Levon Minassin (France -though Armenian heritage); Jivan Gasparyan Jr. (USA) and Jivan Gasparyan Sr. (Armenian); Gevorg Dabaghyan (Armenian); and Vache Sharafyan (Armenian).

Constructed mostly from dense heartwood of the apricot tree (indigenous to Armenia), the Duduk produces a rich, deep timbre or piercing, though supple high tones.  Vibrato is always heard thought it's playing.   This woodwind uses a double reed mouthpiece, tapered to fit into the main body, called a ghamish that’s made from the reed of Arundo donax, also known as Giant Reed, native to eastern and southeastern Asia. The Duduk and mouthpiece is very light weight but create a musical essence both powerful and memorable.

Why craft them?

While watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, I heard a beautifully distinctive sound coming from the movie’s soundtrack, Lily’s Theme. I was enthralled with its quality! The resource stated that an Armenian Duduk created this sound, which proved false. However my curiosity peaked and wanted to know more about the Duduk.

Its distinctive Middle Eastern sound is present in past and current musical scores from various film and television programs, and even software gaming programs. Still totally intrigued by this instrument and continued investigating its history, even discovering renowned artists. A mixture of worldwide performers who either play professionally or communally, or are composers that utilize the Duduk in their music.

Researching,  I stumbled upon web sites showcasing native Armenian artists whose livelihood surrounds crafting these sleek unadorned double reed woodwinds. After days of watching these videos, I became confident that with my past machining skills I learned at Boeing Airplane Company and others, that I could craft these just as well.  It is difficult, and presented some engineering challenges, but not impossible.  

So, here we are… J

Resource: © Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Harry Potter at Bloomsbury.com web site UK publisher book information. © Lily’s theme, composer Alexandre Desplat

Resources of Interest:

• http://www.welcomearmenia.com/: a great point of interest for those searching for touristy information.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duduk: starting point for researching about the Duduk.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Armenia: a brief account of Armenian music culture

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax : Giant Reed, native to Asia and has spread across many countries of the world.  It thrives wherever it does not freeze in the winter months.

• http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Duduk: Armenia’s encyclopedic account about their pride and joy – the Duduk

• http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Music: again, the Armenian version describing their music culture

• http://www.bert.am/html/folk_mus_instrument_en.htm: an enlightening page about Armenian instruments

• https://www.facebook.com/armduduk?v=info: Facebook representation of the Duduk

• http://dirkcampbell.co.uk/duduk.html: a delightful personal account surrounding the Duduk history. Including photos of the craftsman with renowned performers

YouTube music videos, selected randomly:

• From Gladiator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krIRBNpuVPE

• Wonderful Duduk Song Dle Yaman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RyoJ9qroqs

• A compelling historical accounting while accompanied by Duduk music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8CWEiK6PkI

• Dave Tawfik comparing a key of A duduk I sent to him in Cairo Egypt to his A duduk made by by Karen Mukayelyan of Aremian, a Duduk master craftsman: Comparing the VJ Duduk to the KM Duduk

 

düdük; pronounced “dew-duke”  Vern stubbornly calls it a Doo-Duck, since the mouthpiece looks like a duck's bill.

Tsiranapogh Ծիրանափող (apricot horn); pronounced "t-sire-naw-pog"  (pronounce that eating cereal sometime!)