| Duduk | |
|---|---|
| Sound example | |
| Range (and build) |
Armenian duduk type "A" |
| Classification | Double reed wind instrument |
| Related tools | Balaban |
| Media files on Wikimedia Commons | |
Variants are common among the peoples of the Caucasus, Middle East, and Balkan Peninsula.
In 2005, the music of the Armenian duduk was recognized as a masterpiece of the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Etymology
The duduk is distinguished as a type of whistle or mouthpiece flute in different countries(Türkiye, among the Kurds, southwestern Bosnia, Eastern and Southern Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria) and as an Armenian double-reed wind instrument. The name of the duduk-flute comes from the word tour. duduk, düdük, which in turn came from Pers. tutak .
Armenian folk etymology associates “duduk” with the imitation of syllables pronounced while playing an instrument during an attack: doo, fu, toy. This is also where the earlier name of the Armenian duduk came from. Tuytuy .
Story
The duduk called “tsiranapokh” was mentioned by the Armenian historian of the 5th century Movses Khorenatsi.
The duduk instrument and duduk music are an integral part of the cultural life and social identity of the Armenian people. For many centuries, it accompanied all important social events in the life of Armenians: folk celebrations, celebrations, songs and dances, wedding and funeral ceremonies, and more.
According to the research of ethnomusicologist Dr. Jonathan McCollum, the duduk is depicted in numerous Armenian manuscripts from the Middle Ages, symbolizing Armenian national identity. As McColman notes, the most important quality of the duduk is its ability to express the dialectic and mood of the Armenian language [ ] .
General information
The duduk consists of a tube and a removable double tongue (reed). The average length of the pipe is 32 cm, the length of the reed is 12 cm. There are eight holes on the front surface of the duduk, and one on the back.
The sound is generated by the vibration of two reed plates and is regulated by changing the air pressure on the instrument's tongue, as well as closing and opening the playing holes. The reed is usually capped and has a tone control for tuning. By pressing the knob, the tone increases; when it is weakened, the tone decreases.
Music on the duduk is most often performed in pairs: the leading duduk, playing the melody, and the second duduk, called “dam,” which, performing a continuous tonic background of a certain height, provides a specific ostinato sound of the main degrees of the mode. A musician playing the dama (damkash) achieves a similar sound using the technique of continuous breathing: inhaling through the nose, he retains air in his puffed out cheeks, and the flow of air from the oral cavity at the same time creates pressure on the tongue of the duduk.
Typically, dudukists (musicians who play the duduk) also practice playing two other wind instruments - zurna and shvi - during their training. When performing dance music, the duduku is sometimes accompanied by the percussion musical instrument dhol. Duduk is widely used in folk instrument orchestras.
Many nations have musical instruments similar to the duduk in design and sound to varying degrees:
Materials for production
The earliest instruments, like the duduk, were made from animal bones and reeds. Duduk is made from mulberry, apricot, plum and walnut wood. The tongue is made from two pieces of reed. Unlike other instruments with a double reed, the duduk's reed is quite wide, which gives the instrument its unique sad sound.
Making an Armenian duduk
The Armenian duduk (tsiranapokh) is made from apricot wood due to its characteristic ability to resonate. The Armenian duduk is distinguished by a soft sound, more like a voice, in contrast to duduk made from other materials, which are characterized by a rather sharp sound. In the 1920-1930s, the Armenian duduk was improved by V. G. Buni, who, while preserving basically the type of folk instrument, created three varieties of duduk in different registers. The last of them, a lower baritone register, was named after the designer - “buniphon”. The length of the Armenian duduk tube is 28, 33 or 40 cm.
There are 7 (or 8) playing holes on the front side of the instrument and one (or two) for the thumb on the back side. The length of the double tongue, known as “ехег” (Armenian: եղեգ), is usually 9-14 cm.
Sound
Music can be performed on the duduk in various keys. Duduk has a warm, soft, slightly muffled sound and velvety timbre, despite the double reed, similar not to an oboe, but to a saxophone (alto and soprano) or clarinet, and is distinguished by its lyricism, emotionality and expressiveness. When performing music in pairs (leading duduk and female duduk), a feeling of peace, tranquility and high spirituality often arises.
Popularization
Execution
One of the most famous performers of music on the duduk is musician and composer Jivan Gasparyan, nicknamed the master of duduk, author of the soundtracks of many Hollywood films, such as, for example, “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988) and “Gladiator” (2000) (for which he received an award "Golden Globe"). He has worked with many famous musicians, including Andreas Vollenweider, Lionel Richie, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Hans Zimmer, Brian May, Boris Grebenshchikov, Irina Allegrova, Vladimir Presnyakov, Igor Krutoy, Michael Brook and Derek Sherinyan.
In Armenia and among Armenians living beyond its borders, there are many famous duduk players, the most prominent of whom are Ludvig Gharibyan (Լյուդվիգ Ղարիբյան), Jivan Gasparyan Jr. (grandson of Jivan Gasparyan) (Ջիվան Գասպարյան), Gevorg Dabagyan (Գեվորգ Դաբաղյան), Sergey Karapetyan (Armenian), Mkrtich Malkhasyan (Armenian), Vache Hovsepyan (Armenian). One should also mention the outstanding duduk player Hovhannes Kasyan (Հովհաննես Կասյան), who played an important role in the development of this art in Georgia.
See also
Notes
- Duduk // Dictionary of the Russian language in 4 volumes. T. 1. - 1999 (text)
- Duduk- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd edition)
- http://www.ksu.ru/uni/sank/db/filebase/files/360.doc
- Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer
- Chernykh P. Ya. Historical and etymological dictionary of the modern Russian language. - 2nd ed. - M.: Russian language, 1994. - T. 1. - P. 273. - ISBN 5-200-02283-5.
- TSB
- Duduk // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- Duduk and its music (English) // UNESCO
- Playing the duduk // Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity (undefined) . unesco.ru(2005). Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- Armenian musicologists claim the existence of the duduk back in 1200 BC. e., Westerners estimate its age at 1,500 years(English)
- Duduk // Dictionary of the Russian language in 4 volumes. T. 1. - 1999
- S. A. Kuznetsov. Big explanatory dictionary Russian language. Duduk. - I: Norint, 1998
- Turpin, Andy. Nothing Sounds Armenian Like a Duduk: ALMA Lecture (undefined) . The Armenian Weekly(February 12, 2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010. Archived February 22, 2012.
It is a tube with 9 playing holes and a double reed. Common among the peoples of the Caucasus. It is most popular in Armenia, as well as among Armenians living outside its borders.
The traditional name of the Armenian duduk is tsiranapokh, which can literally be translated as “apricot pipe” or “soul of the apricot tree.”
Music on the Armenian duduk is most often performed in pairs: the leading duduk playing the melody, and the second duduk called " I'll give”, which, performing a continuous tonic background of a certain height, provides a specific ostinato sound of the main degrees of the mode.
A musician playing the dama (damkash) achieves a similar sound using a continuous breathing technique: inhaling through the nose, he retains air in his puffed out cheeks, and the flow of air from the oral cavity at the same time creates pressure on the tongue of the duduk.
Usually, during their training, Armenian duduk players also practice playing two other wind instruments - and.
When performing dance music, the duduku is sometimes accompanied by a percussion musical instrument dool. Duduk is widely used in folk orchestras and accompanies Armenian folk songs and dances, as well as wedding and funeral ceremonies.
Unique sound of duduk
Duduk has a warm, soft, slightly muffled sound and velvety timbre, characterized by lyricism, emotionality and expressiveness. When performing music in pairs (leading duduk and female duduk), a feeling of peace, tranquility and high spirituality often arises.
It is believed that the duduk, like no other instrument, is capable of expressing the soul of the Armenian people. The famous composer Aram Khachaturian once said that the duduk is the only instrument that makes him cry.
Music can be performed on the duduk in various keys. For example, a 40-centimeter duduk is considered most suitable for performing love songs, while a shorter one often accompanies dances.
The Armenian duduk has remained virtually unchanged throughout its centuries-old history - only the manner of playing has changed. Despite the fact that its range is one octave, playing the duduk requires considerable skill.
The famous Armenian duduk player Jivan Gasparyan notes: “The Americans and the Japanese tried to reproduce the sound of the duduk on a synthesizer, but each time they failed. This means that the duduk was given to us by God.”
Device
Duduk consists of a tube and a removable double tongue (reed). The length of the Armenian duduk tube is 28, 33 or 40 cm. There are 7 or 8 playing holes on the front side and one or two for the thumb on the back side. The length of the double tongue, known as "exeg", is usually 9-14 cm.
Sound is formed as a result of vibration of two reed plates and is regulated by changing the air pressure on the instrument's tongue, as well as closing and opening the playing holes. The reed is usually capped and has a tone control for tuning. By pressing the knob, the tone increases; when it is weakened, the tone decreases.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the duduk received the definition of a diatonic one-octave instrument. However, despite this, chromatic notes are achieved by partially covering the playing holes.
The earliest instruments, like the duduk, were made from animal bones and reeds. Currently, duduk is made exclusively from wood. And the Armenian duduk is made from an apricot tree, the fruits of which were first brought to Europe from Armenia. Apricot wood has a unique ability to resonate.
Variants of the duduk in other countries are made from other materials (plum wood, walnut wood, etc.), but, according to experts, such a duduk is characterized by a rather sharp, nasal sound, while the Armenian duduk is distinguished by a soft sound, more like to the voice.
The tongue is made from two pieces of reed, which grows in large quantities along the banks of the Araks River. Unlike other instruments with a double reed, the duduk's reed is quite wide, which gives the instrument its unique sad sound.
Origin, history of duduk
Duduk- one of the oldest wind musical instruments in the world. Some researchers believe that the duduk was first mentioned in written monuments of the state of Urartu. In line with this hypothesis, we can believe that its history goes back about three thousand years.
Others attribute the appearance of the duduk to the reign of the Armenian king Tigran II the Great (95-55 BC). Armenian historian of the 5th century AD. e. Movses Khorenatsi in his writings speaks about the instrument “tsiranapokh” (apricot wood pipe), which is one of the oldest written mentions about this tool. Duduk was depicted in many medieval Armenian manuscripts.
Perhaps due to the existence of quite extensive Armenian states (Great Armenia, Lesser Armenia, the Cilician Kingdom, etc.) and thanks to the Armenians who lived not only within the Armenian Highlands, but also in Persia, the Middle East, Asia Minor, in the Balkans, Caucasus, Crimea, etc., the duduk also spread in these territories.
Also, the duduk could penetrate beyond its original distribution area thanks to the trade routes that existed at the relevant time, some of which passed through Armenia.
Having been borrowed from other countries and becoming an element of the culture of other peoples, the duduk has undergone some changes over the centuries. As a rule, this concerned melody, the number of sound holes and the materials from which the instrument is made.
Duduk in our time
Today we can hear duduk in many films. It has become one of the most popular instruments for performing music for Hollywood soundtracks.
The first world-famous film in which the duduk was played was “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Other films and television series followed. The most famous of them: “Gladiator”, “Ararat”, “Alexander”, “Passion of the Christ”, “Munich”, “Syriana”, “The Da Vinci Code”, “Ashes and Snow”, “Hulk”, “Xena the Queen” Warriors", "Russian House", "Raven", "Onegin".
Duduk performed by Jivan Gasparyan can be heard in more than three dozen films. Gasparyan collaborated with German film composer Hans Zimmer in writing the music for Gladiator. In 2001, the soundtrack to the film, performed by Gasparyan, won the Golden Globe in the category “Best Music”.
There are many famous duduk players in Armenia and among Armenians living beyond its borders, the most prominent of whom are Ludwig Gharibyan, Jivan Gasparyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, Sergey Karapetyan, Mkrtich Malkhasyan, Vache Hovsepyan. Among Azerbaijani musicians, Alikhan Samedov is the most famous.
In 2005, the Armenian duduk was recognized as a masterpiece of the World Intangible cultural heritage UNESCO.
Video: Duduk (tsiranapokh) on video + sound
Thanks to these videos, you can get acquainted with the instrument, watch a real game on it, listen to its sound, and feel the specifics of the technique:
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National Armenian wind instrument, which has received worldwide recognition. In Armenia it is also called tsiranapokh (literally “apricot pipe”). Duduk is both a very simple and complex instrument. It is a tube with eight holes on the front side and one on the back
It would seem that it could be simpler. However, as soon as the master starts playing, this small piece of apricot tree fills the space with an incredibly beautiful melody, completely capturing the attention of the listeners.
It is impossible to say exactly when exactly this instrument first appeared in Armenia. The Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi mentioned it back in the 5th century. One thing is clear: duduk melodies have been an integral part of the Armenian national culture since ancient times. To its sounds, weddings and celebrations were celebrated and people who left this world were seen off on their eternal journey. Duduk, better than all other instruments, expressed the feelings and emotions of the Armenian people.
Get ready to listen to the duduk
Have you ever heard birds singing in a clearing, or the quiet murmur of a mountain stream? Or maybe you prefer the quiet rustling of leaves humming the gentle melody of the forest? The Armenian duduk is capable of conveying the entire depth of this natural “music”. The instrument transmits warm and soft sound. He is expressive, emotional and lyrical.
Often, when listening to duduk melodies, a feeling of spiritual peace and renunciation of all earthly things arises. The duduk melodies are pure and natural; they contain the essence of the universe. It is not surprising that even after a hard day, this music can give peace and tranquility to any listener.
But how can such a simple instrument conceal so many charming and unique sounds?
One of the main secrets of the duduk is the material it is made of. Apricot wood gives the instrument the ability to resonate. Thanks to this, the sound of the duduk is very similar to a voice. How can any sound compare in power to the human voice!
Sensuality, emotions, hopes - not a single instrument is able to convey the experiences of the human soul with the strength and passion that the duduk does. And if you put this powerful tool in the hands of an experienced master, its strength will increase significantly. Perhaps that is why the music performed on the duduk by Jivan Gasporyan conquered the whole world, becoming one of the already recognized masterpieces of the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Forget for a moment about all your worries, close the door to all the hardships and plunge into the sensual and stunning world of duduk. He will open to you the most intimate corners of the human soul.
DUDUK - Djivan Gasparyan-Kapuit Manushak (Blue Violet)
Live duduk music
The instrument, which appeared thousands of years ago, still continues to captivate with its unforgettable and beautiful sound. Duduk can play music in a variety of keys, but most often sad melodies sound from it. They tell the listener the story of an entire people who have passed great path. This story contains both joy and sadness, it contains life itself, embodied in music. That is why the motives of the duduk will never become outdated or fade away, because the soul of the people is hidden in them.
But duduk music is not only the heritage of Armenia itself. Now it sounds all over the world. Performed by the most famous contemporary masters (Jivan Gasparyan, Ludvig Gharibyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, Hovhannes Kasyan) it can be heard both on world concert stages and in modern films.
This is how the duduk sounded in the world-famous film “The Last Temptation of Christ”, and then in such famous film adaptations as “Gladiator”, “Ararat”, “Alexander”, “The Da Vinci Code”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” , “The Passion of the Christ”, “Onegin” and many others.
And this is just the beginning new history tool.
Jivan Gasparyan (duduk) soundtrack from the movie Gladiator
Duduk, less commonly “tsiranapokh” (Armenian), which can be literally translated as “apricot trumpet” or “soul of the apricot tree”, is one of the oldest wind musical instruments in the world. Some researchers believe that the duduk was first mentioned in written monuments of the state of Urartu. In line with this hypothesis, we can believe that its history goes back about three thousand years. Others attribute the appearance of the duduk to the reign of the Armenian king Tigran II the Great (95-55 BC). It is believed that the duduk under the name “tsiranapokh” was mentioned in the works of a historian of the 5th century. Movses Khorenatsi. Duduk was depicted in many medieval Armenian manuscripts.
Perhaps due to the existence of quite extensive Armenian states (Great Armenia, Lesser Armenia, the Cilician Kingdom, etc.) and thanks to the Armenians who lived not only within the Armenian Highlands, but also in Persia, the Middle East, Asia Minor, in the Balkans, Caucasus, Crimea, etc., the duduk also spread in these territories. Also, the duduk could penetrate beyond its original distribution area thanks to the trade routes that existed at the relevant time, some of which passed through Armenia. Having been borrowed from other countries and becoming an element of the culture of other peoples, it has undergone some changes over the centuries. As a rule, this concerned the melody, the number of sound holes and the materials from which the instrument was made.
Many peoples also have musical instruments similar to the duduk in design and sound, and probably being its variations:
in Azerbaijan - tyutyak, the name balaban is also used;
in Georgia - duduks;
in Turkey - mey;
in China - guan or guanzi;
in Japan - hichiriki or hitiriki
Music on the Armenian duduk is most often performed in pairs: the leading duduk, playing the melody, and the second duduk, called “dam,” which, performing a continuous tonic background of a certain height, provides a specific ostinato sound of the main degrees of the mode. A musician playing the dama (damkash) achieves a similar sound using a continuous breathing technique: inhaling through the nose, he retains air in his puffed out cheeks, and the flow of air from the oral cavity at the same time creates pressure on the tongue of the duduk.
Typically, dudukists (musicians who play the duduk) during their training also practice playing two other wind instruments - zurna and shvi. When performing dance music, the duduku is sometimes accompanied by a percussion musical instrument, the dool. Duduk is widely used in folk orchestras and accompanies folk songs and dances, as well as wedding and funeral ceremonies.
Description
The duduk consists of a playing pipe, traditionally made of apricot wood, and a removable reed made of reed. The length of the Armenian duduk is from 28 to 40 cm. There are 8 playing holes on the front side and two holes on the back side, one playing hole for the thumb, and the second is used for tuning the instrument. The length of the cane, known as “ramish” (Armenian), is usually 9-14 cm.
The sound is generated by the vibration of two reed plates and is regulated by changing air pressure, as well as closing and opening the playing holes. The reed is usually capped and has a tone control for tuning. By pressing the knob, the tone increases; when it is weakened, the tone decreases.
At the beginning of the 20th century. The duduk received the definition of a diatonic one-octave instrument. However, despite this, chromatic notes are achieved by partially covering the playing holes.
The duduk is made in the keys G, A, Bb, H, C, D, E, Eb and F. There are also varieties: alto, tenor, bass duduk and piccolo.
For beginners, an instrument in the key of A (A) is recommended.
Game Basics
When playing the duduk, you need to monitor the position of your body and the instrument. You should be relaxed, keep your head straight and not arch your back. Hold the duduk at an angle of 50 degrees. relative to the body. The elbows are slightly raised for free breathing. When playing while sitting, do not cross your legs, as this will unnecessarily strain your abdominal muscles, which will directly affect your breathing. When playing standing, the right foot is slightly forward.
No less important, when playing the duduk, correct breathing. The inhalation should be quick and deep, and the exhalation should be long and even. There are three types of breathing:
- thoracic or costal
- abdominal or diaphragmatic
- mixed or thoracic-abdominal
Before you begin, make sure your instrument is ready to play. The reed should be open, that is, have a small gap between the plates. If it is closed, drop a little water inside. Pour it out and put on the cap, wait 15-20 minutes, after which you can start playing the duduk.
Next, lightly pinch the cane with your lips at the very end. Puff out your cheeks so that your lips move slightly away from your gums, and exhale smoothly and slowly.
To achieve correct sound production, it is recommended to start with simple exercises.
There are two types of hand placement when playing the duduk: simplified, when the little finger on the left hand is not used, and full, in which all fingers are used. For beginners, a simplified version is recommended.
Instrument care
The duduk requires periodic maintenance, which consists of lubricating the tube. Walnut oil is best suited for these purposes. The tube is lubricated on the outside, but not on the inside.
After playing, the reed must be removed from the tube, loosen the regulator on it, put on the cap and let it dry. It is recommended to store reeds in ventilated cases.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
My duduk is not playing, what should I do?
1. Familiarize yourself
2. Check the cane. If it does not open, this happens when it is rarely used, then dip the reed in a small amount of water, approximately 1-1.5 cm. Check periodically and as soon as the reed opens, wipe it and you can start playing. If it turns out that the cane has opened too much, then put on the cap and set it aside for 15-20 minutes, thereby allowing it to dry. After which you can start playing.
3. Check that your fingers are positioned correctly when playing. The holes should be tightly closed with the first phalanx. Perhaps one of the holes is not tightly clamped.
4. You may be squeezing the reed tightly with your lips when playing.
5. Watch your breathing. A small amount of air pressure is enough for the reed to vibrate and sound to appear.
My duduk is not building
1. Familiarize yourself
2. Move the control on the reed lower or higher to achieve the desired sound.
3. To improve the overall action, you can wind the threads from the base of the reed. Similarly, to lower the threads, they are wound.
Musical instrument: Duduk
Armenia is an amazing ancient country. Anyone lucky enough to visit there at least once will be left with impressions and pleasant memories for the rest of their lives. Armenia is famous for its extraordinary beauty of landscape nature with the mountain peaks of Ararat, kind people, national cuisine, the most delicious apricots in the world and interesting traditions. But there is one more attraction that the Armenian people treat with special reverence; their pride is the ethnic musical instrument - the duduk. It is called an instrument with the soul of an apricot tree. The cultural life of Armenia and the duduk are inseparable from each other; it reflects the social identity inherent in the colorful and diverse Armenian people. Armenians claim that the duduk expresses all the subtleties and experiences, the pain of their hearts. All important events in the life of the people: weddings, funerals, various celebrations and public holidays are accompanied by the prayer-like sound of this unique instrument.
The history of duduk and many interesting facts Read about this musical instrument on our page.
Sound
While listening to the duduk, it is impossible to remain indifferent to its soft and warm, velvety expressive sound, similar to a human voice. The timbre of the instrument, distinguished by its lyrical emotionality, is capable of conveying subtle emotional experiences and shades of human grief.
A more colorful performance of music on the duduk is characterized by paired performance by two musicians: one performs the main theme, and the other, called dam or damkash, creates a continuous background sound. It is in such a performance that music brings a feeling of peace, high spirituality and makes it possible to feel the breath of time.
The very small range of the duduk is just over an octave. If the instrument is diatonic, but the sound holes on it are not completely covered, it is permissible to extract chromatic sounds. Therefore, it is possible to perform music written in different keys on the duduk.
The sound of the duduk appears as a result of the vibration of the reed reed and the vibration of the air stream in the instrument created by the performer.
Photo:
Interesting facts
- Duduk today has three names: tsiranapokh (translated from Armenian as “apricot trumpet” or “soul of the apricot tree”), duduk (the name came from the Turks a little over 100 years ago) and Armenian clarinet.
- Many peoples have instruments whose structure resembles a duduk. Macedonian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Croatian forged; Georgian duduki; Dagestan, Azerbaijani, Iranian balaban; Chinese guan; Japanese hichiriki; Korean piri; Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian pipes; Moldavian, Romanian, Uzbek, Tajik nai; Turkish mei is just a small list of instruments that are similar in design to duduk.
- Dudukist is the name given to a musician who plays the duduk.
- To achieve a beautiful sound, the masters who make the duduk experimented a lot with the material, using different types of wood and even crystal.
- In Armenia, duduk is made from apricot trees that grow in this country, and, according to its inhabitants, symbolize strength of spirit and faithful, long-term love.
- Outstanding Armenian composer A. Khachaturyan He said that among the instruments, only the duduk could make him cry.
- In Armenia, the duduk is a very famous and beloved instrument, and its performers are very respected and revered. However, this was not always the case; in the past, duduk players were considered frivolous and insolvent people, contemptuously calling them “zurnachs.” Families even refused to let them marry their daughters.
- Varpet - this word in Armenia means not just a great master, but a creator. The Armenians still call Vache Hovsepyan the great varpet and king of the duduk.
- In Armenia, there is a unique ensemble in which performers play only Armenian duduks. This musical group has the corresponding name - “Dudukner”. The ensemble's total range of three octaves allows it to perform music of various musical genres, from classical to jazz.
- Film directors from Hollywood take great interest in the vital voice of the duduk, including its sound in the musical accompaniment of their films. “Gladiator”, “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “Munich”, “The Passion of the Christ”, “The Da Vinci Code”, “Ashes and Snow”, “Onegin”, “Syriana”, “The Raven”, “Alexander”, “Hulk” , “Xena - Warrior Princess”, “Ararat”, “Game of Thrones” - this is just a small list of 60 famous films whose soundtracks are decorated with the sound of the duduk.
- In 2005, the international organization UNESCO recognized the music performed on the Armenian duduk as a masterpiece of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
- In February 2015, according to the original idea of stage director A. Titel, at the Musical Theater named after. Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko at the premiere of the opera " Khovanshchina "The duduk was performed in Russian opera for the first time as part of an ensemble of Armenian folk instruments.
- In Moscow in 2006, a monument to the Armenian duduk was erected in Shemilovsky Lane. The monument, symbolizing the continuity of generations and fidelity to national traditions, is called “Song of the Motherland.”
Design
Duduk, being a reed woodwind instrument, has practically not changed its external shape during its centuries-old history. Its very simple device includes a tube and a reed, which is a double tongue.
- On the tube, which has a cylindrical shape, the length of which varies from 28 to 40 cm (28, 33, 40), there are sound holes: 7, sometimes 8, on the front and 1 or 2 on the back. A special variety of apricot tree, which grows only in Armenia, is traditionally used as a material for making a pipe. It is believed that its wood has special resonating properties that give the instrument such a soulful and emotional sound.
- The reed, which ranges from 9 to 14 cm in length, usually has a cap and is also equipped with a tone control that allows you to adjust the sound of the instrument.
Varieties
The duduk family can be divided into solo and ensemble instruments. Solo instruments differ in size and tuning.
- Duduk in tuning G. Range - E of the small octave - A of the first octave Length - 38 cm. Has the lowest sound. The timbre is velvety, but piercing.
- Duduk in tuning A. Range - F-sharp of the small octave - B of the first octave. Length - 36 cm. The most common tool.
- Duduk in B tuning. Range - small octave G - up to the first octave. Length - 34 cm. Also very common.
- Duduk in H tuning. Range - G-sharp of the small octave - C-sharp of the second octave. Length - 33 cm. The sound color is light and bright. Used in performing dance tunes.
- Duduk in C tuning. Range - A of the small octave - D of the second octave. Length - 30 cm. Sounds bright, high and piercing. Used in ensembles as a solo and accompanying instrument.
- Duduk in D tuning. Range - B-flat of the small octave - D-sharp of the second octave. Length - 29 cm. The sound is light and clear. Quite often used as both a solo and accompanying instrument.
Ensemble instruments include duduk-tenor, duduk-baritone and duduk-bass. They were designed relatively recently to create a unique ensemble, which consists of instruments only of this type.
Application
Throughout its centuries-old history, duduk has become an integral part of the culture of Armenia. All vital events of the country's inhabitants are accompanied by the sound of this unique instrument. His quiet philosophical cry accompanies a person on his “last journey.” He sings emotionally at various holidays: weddings, birthdays, state celebrations. In addition, attracting performers in various modern musical genres with its sound, today the range of its application is very wide. In addition to participating in folk ensembles, the voice of the duduk very often decorates with its timbre color soundtracks for various films, as well as compositions in such musical styles as jazz , rock, blues, pop music, rock and roll And classical music.
The repertoire for the duduk is very limited due to its small range and is mainly based on Armenian folk music. IN lately, with the advent of new varieties of the instrument such as duduk-tenor, duduk-baritone and duduk-bass, the range of its sound has expanded significantly. In ensemble performance on these instruments it became possible to hear works of classical music I.S. Bach, V.A. Mozart, S. Rachmaninov, D. Gershwin, as well as Armenian composers A. Khachaturian, A. Spendiarov, Komitas, G. Narekatsi, N. Shnorali, M. Ekmalyan.
Performers
In Armenia they believe that only musicians with Armenian roots in their family can play the duduk truly beautifully, since this is genetically inherent in them.
Vache Hovsepyan is still considered one of the greatest duduk players of the 20th century, whom no one could surpass in virtuosity in playing the instrument.
At the present time, an outstanding performer, well known throughout the world and who has done a lot to popularize the instrument and its international recognition, is Jivan Gasparyan. His concerts, held in the best concert halls, are scheduled for many months in advance.
Of particular note is the contribution to the development of the instrument by the gifted musician-performer and teacher Georgy Minasov. Having expanded the range and performing capabilities of the instrument, he created a unique ensemble of duduk players.
Among the talented performers who nowadays worthily represent the duduk on concert stages and delight listeners with the sound of a unique instrument, I would like to mention O. Kasyan, G. Malkhasyan, L. Gharibyan, S. Karapetyan, G. Dabaghyan, A. Martirosyan, K. Seyranyan , O. Kazaryan, N. Barseghyan, R. Mkrtchyan, A. Avedikyan, Argishti.
From time immemorial, the duduk in Armenia was considered an exclusively male instrument. However, the first female duduk player to break this stereotype was the laureate of the All-Union Music Festival Armine Simonyan.
Story
When the duduk appeared and who was the first to carve the instrument from apricot wood, now no one can say for sure. But no one argues with the fact that it has existed since ancient times. Even in the ancient manuscripts of the state of Urartu, which existed in the third millennium BC on the territory that now partially belongs to Armenia, historians found information about the instrument extremely similar to the duduk. Then the instrument is again indirectly mentioned in ancient sources of the first millennium BC, during the reign of the ruler Tigran the Great. And only the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, who lived in the 5th century AD, gives more reliable information about the instrument, calling it a “tsiranapokh”, that is, a pipe made of apricot wood.
But thanks to the images that have come down to us in ancient manuscripts of the Middle Ages, we learn that the duduk was a very popular instrument not only in Armenia, but also in the countries of the Middle East, Crimea and the Balkans.
Over the years of its long existence, the duduk has not actually changed, but in Armenia since ancient times there has been a belief that the instrument will sound only if it is made by the musician himself, so that the duduk and the soul of the performer can merge into one. Currently, no one adheres to this tradition anymore, and the making of instruments is carried out by craftsmen who know the hidden secrets of this delicate craft.
One of the initiators of the improvement of the duduk, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years, is the enthusiast and gifted musician-performer Georgy Minasov. In collaboration with the talented master of musical instruments Sergei Avanesov, they created a set of instruments: duduk-tenor, duduk-baritone and duduk-bass. The total range of instruments now amounted to three octaves and allowed performers to significantly expand their repertoire.
Duduk is an ancient instrument that has always enjoyed respect and love. The performing arts are thriving here and attracting an increasing number of musicians and simply music lovers. Duduk, with his passionate and deep voice, reaches every heart, regardless of nationality and religion, thereby conquering cities and countries.
Video: listen to duduk