Duduk

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Armenian woodwind musical instrument

title: "Duduk" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["single-oboes-with-cylindrical-bore", "armenian-inventions", "armenian-musical-instruments", "musical-instruments-of-georgia-(country)", "masterpieces-of-the-oral-and-intangible-heritage-of-humanity"] description: "Armenian woodwind musical instrument" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duduk" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Armenian woodwind musical instrument ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox instrument"]

FieldValue
nameDuduk
backgroundwoodwind
imageDoudouk armenien.jpg
classificationWind instrument with double reed
relatedClosely related instruments include the Mey (Turkey), Balaban (Azerbaijan, Iran), Yasti Balaban (Dagestan), Duduki (Georgia), Duduk (Armenia), Hichiriki (Japan), Piri (Korea), Guanzi (China), and Kamis Sirnay (Kyrgyzstan),
musiciansDjivan Gasparyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, Vache Hovsepyan, Levon Minassian, Pedro Eustache
buildersKarlen Matevosyan, Arthur Grigoryan, Hovsep Grigoryan
image_captDuduk
sound sample{{listen
embedyes
filenameSERGO.TEL - April - duduk-improvisation2.ogg
titleDuduk music
descriptionMelody performed with a duduk by SERGO.TEL.}}
::

::callout[type=note] Not to be confused with the different meaning of '[[Sitting ::

| name = Duduk | background = woodwind | image = Doudouk armenien.jpg | classification = Wind instrument with double reed | related = Closely related instruments include the Mey (Turkey), Balaban (Azerbaijan, Iran), Yasti Balaban (Dagestan), Duduki (Georgia), Duduk (Armenia), Hichiriki (Japan), Piri (Korea), Guanzi (China), and Kamis Sirnay (Kyrgyzstan), | musicians = Djivan Gasparyan, Gevorg Dabaghyan, Vache Hovsepyan, Levon Minassian, Pedro Eustache | builders = Karlen Matevosyan, Arthur Grigoryan, Hovsep Grigoryan | image_capt = Duduk | sound sample = {{listen | embed = yes | filename = SERGO.TEL - April - duduk-improvisation2.ogg | title = Duduk music | description = Melody performed with a duduk by SERGO.TEL.}} | Image = Kids Playing duduk.jpg | Caption = Armenian children playing the duduk | ICH = Duduk and its music | State Party = Armenia | Domains = Performing arts (music) | ID = 00092 | Region = ENA | Year = 2008 | Session = 3rd | List = Representative

The Armenian duduk ( ; ) or tsiranapogh (, meaning "apricot-made wind instrument"), is a double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood originating from Armenia. Variations of the Armenian duduk appear throughout the Caucasus, the Balkans, and the Middle East. The duduk, balaban and mey are almost identical, except for historical and geographical differences.

It is commonly played in pairs: while the first player plays the melody, the second plays a steady drone called dum, and the sound of the two instruments together creates a richer, more haunting sound. The unflattened reed and cylindrical body produce a sound closer to the English horn than the oboe or bassoon. Unlike other double reed instruments like the oboe or shawm, the duduk has a very large reed proportional to its size.

UNESCO proclaimed the Armenian duduk and its music as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005 and inscribed it in 2008. Duduk music has been used in a number of Hollywood films.

Etymology

Both the Russian book Musical Instruments Encyclopedia (Музыкальные инструменты. Энциклопедия) and American book Musical Instruments, A Comprehensive Dictionary give an ultimate origin of the name as Persian, the word tutak.

In Armenia, the instrument is also known as tsiranapogh ().

This instrument is not to be confused with the northwestern Bulgarian folk instrument of the same name (see below, Balkan duduk).

Overview

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Duduk1.jpg"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Anchededoudouk.jpg" caption="A duduk reed"] ::

The duduk is a double reed instrument with ancient origins, having existed since at least the fifth century, while there are Armenian scholars who believe it existed more than 1,500 years before that. The earliest instruments similar to the duduk's present form are made of bone or entirely of cane. Today, the duduk is exclusively made of wood with a large double reed, with the body made from aged apricot wood.

The particular tuning depends heavily on the region in which it is played. An eight-hole duduk (not counting the thumb hole on the lower side) can play ten successive notes of a diatonic scale with simple fingering, or sixteen consecutive notes of a chromatic scale by half-covering holes. For example, an A duduk can play all the notes from F♯ to the A more than an octave higher. (Another reference gives different information.) By using the lips to "bend" notes and partially covering holes any pitch in this range can be produced, as required for Oriental music. The instrument's body has different lengths depending upon the range of the instrument and region. The reed (Armenian: եղեգն, eġegn), is made from one or two pieces of cane in a duck-bill type assembly. Unlike other double-reed instruments, the reed is quite wide, helping to give the duduk both its unique, mournful sound, as well as its remarkable breathing requirements. The duduk player is called dudukahar (դուդուկահար) in Armenian.

The performers use air stored in their cheeks to keep playing the instrument while they inhale air into their lungs. This "circular" breathing technique is commonly used with all the double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

Duduk "is invariably played with the accompaniment of a second dum duduk, which gives the music an energy and tonic atmosphere, changing the scale harmoniously with the principal duduk."

History

Armenian musicologists cite evidence of the duduk's use as early as 1200 BC, though Western scholars suggest it is 1,500 years old. Variants of the duduk can be found in Armenia and the Caucasus. The history of the Armenian duduk music is dated to the reign of the Armenian king Tigran the Great, who reigned from 95 to 55 B.C. According to ethnomusicologist Dr. Jonathan McCollum, the instrument is depicted in numerous Armenian manuscripts of the Middle Ages, and is "actually the only truly Armenian instrument that's survived through history, and as such is a symbol of Armenian national identity ... The most important quality of the duduk is its ability to express the language dialectic and mood of the Armenian language, which is often the most challenging quality to a duduk player."

Balkan duduk

While "duduk" most commonly refers to the double reed instrument described on this page, there is a very similar instrument played in northwestern Bulgaria. This is a blocked-end flute known as a kaval, resembling the Serbian frula, or kavalče in a part of North Macedonia, and as duduk in northwest Bulgaria. Made of maple or other wood, it comes in two sizes: 700 - and 240 - (duduce). The blocked end is flat.

In popular culture

The sound of the duduk has become known to wider audiences through its use in popular film soundtracks. Starting with Peter Gabriel's score for Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, the duduk's archaic and mournful sound has been employed in a variety of genres to depict such moods. Djivan Gasparyan played the duduk in Gladiator, Syriana, and Blood Diamond, among others. It was also used extensively in Battlestar Galactica. In the TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender, its computer-altered sound was given to the fictitious Tsungi horn, most notably played by Iroh and often being featured in the show's soundtrack. With many of the members who worked on ATLA now working on The Dragon Prince, the duduk regularly appears in its soundtrack as well. The sound of the duduk was also used in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for a lullaby which Mr. Tumnus plays on a fictitious double flute, and was featured in the theme song of the Dothraki clan during the TV adaptation Game of Thrones.

Armenia's entry in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, "Apricot Stone," featured Armenian musician Djivan Gasparyan playing the duduk.

Film soundtracks

The Armenian duduk has been used in a number of films, especially "to denote otherworldliness, loneliness, and mourning or to supply a Middle Eastern/Central Asian atmosphere".

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Benik_Iknatyan_playing_the_doudouk.jpg" caption="Armenian Genocide memorial complex]] in [[Yerevan]], Armenia, 1997."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Forom_des_langues_2013_18.jpg" caption="fr}} in [[Toulouse]], [[France]]."] ::

Television soundtracks

Video game scores

Popular music

Anime soundtracks

  • Arrietty by Cécile Corbel, in the track "Sho's Song - Instrumental Version"
  • Tales from Earthsea by Tamiya Terashima, in the tracks "The Trip", "The Spider" and "Violent Robbery/The Seduction of the Undead".

References

References

  1. (2006). "The Duduk and National Identity in Armenia". [[American Musical Instrument Society]].
  2. McCollum, Jonathan. (2016). "Duduk (i)". Grove Music Online.
  3. link. (2018-05-09 , World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East p.335)
  4. (2008). "Peoples of Africa and the Middle East, Volume 1". Facts On File.
  5. (June 2003). "Dialogue among civilizations. Caucasus-->". UNESCO.
  6. [https://www.ayk.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/KARAHASANO%c4%9eLU-Song%c3%bcl-A-COMPARATIVE-VIEW-OF-THE-MEY-BALABAN-AND-DUDUK-AS-ORGANOLOGICAL-PHENOMENA.pdf A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE MEY, BALABAN AND DUDUK AS ORGANOLOGICAL PHENOMENA]{{Retrieved
  7. (November 2012). "Sounds of Armenian duduk". UNESCO.
  8. "Duduk and its music". UNESCO.
  9. Marcuse, Sibyl. (1964). "Musical Instruments, A Comprehensive Dictionary". Doubleday.
  10. (2008). "Музыкальные инструменты. Энциклопедия". Дека-ВС.
  11. (1999). "World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East".
  12. (2012). "Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa: An Encyclopedia". [[SAGE Publications]].
  13. "Duduk Fingering Chart". ArmenianDuduk.am.
  14. (3 February 2014). "HOW TO PLAY DUDUK 3: Playing a scale". DudukLessons.com.
  15. (2000). "Armenian Duduk An Instructional Book For Beginners". American Recording Productions.
  16. (27 April 2017). "The Duduk & Mey: History, Info and Set-Up".
  17. Albright, Ch.. (15 December 1988). "BĀLĀBĀN". [[Encyclopaedia Iranica]].
  18. "WWW.DUDUK.CO.UK - Professional Armenian Duduks, Zurnas, Ghamish by Master Arthur Grigoryan".
  19. "Gasparyan, Djivan | Encyclopedia.com".
  20. link. (2014-03-16 . [[UNESCO]]. Accessed February 8, 2010.)
  21. Turpin, Andy. (12 February 2010). "Nothing Sounds Armenian Like a Duduk: ALMA Lecture". [[Armenian Weekly]].
  22. [http://www.macedoniadirect.com/instruments/supelki.htm www.macedoniadirect.com/instruments/supelki.htm] {{webarchive. link. (2006-05-25)
  23. "Дудук : Horo.bg - българският сайт за народни хора, песни, танци, обичаи, фолклор". Horo.bg.
  24. "Бит и култура | Речник на остарели, редки, чуждици и диалектни думи ДЛ-ДУ".
  25. "Jivan Gasparyan".
  26. (28 September 2006). "Bear McCreary – Official site".
  27. Staff, AvatarSpirit.net. "Music Interview with the Track Team (part 3 of 3) :: AvatarSpirit.net".
  28. "Harry Gregson-Williams Talks Narnia & Narnian Lullaby Clip".
  29. [http://www.dw.com/en/no-flutes-allowed-composer-ramin-djawadi-on-the-music-of-game-of-thrones/a-19201563 No flutes allowed: Composer Ramin Djawadi on the music of 'Game of Thrones'] {{webarchive. link. (2016-11-01 , ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'')
  30. Hung, Eric. (2011). "Buffy, Ballads, and Bad Guys Who Sing: Music in the Worlds of Joss Whedon". [[Scarecrow Press]].
  31. "Chris Bleth Movie Credits". Chrisbleth.com.
  32. "Gladiator (Soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard".
  33. "Hotel Rwanda: Rupert Gregson-Williams, Andrea Guerra: Film Music on the Web CD Reviews April 2006".
  34. (8 June 2003). "Hulk Editorial Review". Filmtracks.
  35. Brennan, Mike. (2 December 2005). "The Chronicles of Narnia Review".
  36. Savita Gautham. "inese rhapsody". [[The Hindu]].
  37. (22 October 2021). "How Hans Zimmer Conjured the Otherworldly Sounds of 'Dune'".
  38. (8 March 2024). "DUNE, PART TWO – Hans Zimmer | MOVIE MUSIC UK".
  39. Staff, AvatarSpirit.net. "Music Interview with the Track Team (part 3 of 3) :: AvatarSpirit.net".
  40. (2006-09-28). "Instruments of Battlestar Galactica: Duduk". Bearmccreary.com.
  41. Runner, Blade. (2004-02-26). "Duduk: The Instrument That Makes Hollywood Cry". Galactica-station.blogspot.com.
  42. "Battlestar Galactica: Season Two". Musicweb-international.com.
  43. "Children of Dune". Cinemusic.net.
  44. (15 April 2013). "'Game of Thrones' Composer Ramin Djawadi: 'I'm Just Trying to Create Something Magical' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  45. "Jeff Beal - Interview".
  46. "The Role of Orchestration and Instrumentation in The Dragon Prince: Piano and Death".
  47. "Civ5in". Michaelcurran.net.
  48. "Rome - Augustus Caesar War - "Ancient Roman Melody Fragments" by Geoff Knorr". ISSUU.
  49. Bloodworth, Daniel. (2012-04-09). "BackTrack: Composing Mass Effect – Jack Wall Interview, Part 1 | Side Mission". GameTrailers.
  50. Ohtani, Tomoya. (7 December 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Original Soundtrack Stillness & Motion". Wave Master Entertainment.
  51. Benoit Basirico. (2005-11-14). "Gedo Senki (Les Contes de Terremer)". Cinezik.org.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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