Duduk

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    Armenian Duduk

    Duduk, a wooden wind instrument made of apricot wood. From Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are variations of this instrument, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, and the Caucasus, and the Middle East is seen in other regions, including Iran. Its instruments and music were declared by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. Duduk is made from hornbeam, walnut, plum, apricot, and similar hardwoods.

    Duduks sound is dull and light, it is played mostly indoors and in-room meetings because of its weak voice.

    In short, the reed of the duduk is the essence of the instrument. Keeping it in good condition is crucial to your playing ability. In any distortion, it will be difficult for you to produce a quality sound from a duduk musical instrument. 

    The balaban played in Azerbaijan and Iran falls under the aerophone category, which includes the duduki common in Georgia and the ney in Turkey. The soft wood of the apricot tree is the ideal material for the body of the instrument.

     

    Details of Armenian Duduk

    Armenian duduk music generally accompanies popular Armenian traditional songs and dances from various regions. (For example, Armenian duduk music can be played at weddings.) There are four main types of duduk, ranging in length from 28 to 40 cm. Differences between these genres allow the duduk sound to express various moods depending on the content of the piece and the playing context.
    Today, duduk masters continue to try and develop duduk types. Many Armenians see the duduk as the instrument that best expresses warmth, joy, and their past.

    In addition to today's popular music, the popularity of some musical instruments, especially in rural areas, may decrease compared to the past. We can cite Armenian duduk music as an example. On the other hand, stage performances by professionals can still continue.

    Features of Duduk

    The duduk is a double-reed instrument with a tradition of ancient origin, existing since at least the 5th century, although there are Armenian scholars who believe it existed more than 1500 years ago. The earliest instruments, similar to the current form of the duduk, were made of bone or entirely of reed. Today, the duduk is made of aged apricot wood with a large double-reed wood in its trunk.

    The custom setting is highly dependent on the region in which it is played. In the 20th century, the diatonic in the Armenian duduk scale and the single octave in the interval began to be standardized. Incidental, or chromatic, is achieved using finger techniques. The body of the instrument has different lengths depending on the range and region of the instrument. The reed is made from one or two pieces of reed in a duckbill type assembly. Unlike other double-reed instruments, the reed is quite large, helping to give the duduk both its unique, melancholy sound and its extraordinary need for breathing. Duduk player is called dudukahar in Armenian.

    The performer uses the air stored in their cheeks to continue playing the instrument while drawing air into their lungs. This "circular" breathing technique is commonly used on all double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

    The most important feature of the duduk musical instrument is its ability to express the linguistic dialect and mood of the Armenian language, which is often the most challenging qualification for a duduk player. At this point, the actor's propensity for language becomes more prominent.

    The sound of the duduk musical instrument became known to a wider audience with its use in popular movie soundtracks. Specifically, it has been used "to indicate otherness, loneliness, and mourning, or to provide a Middle Eastern or Central Asian atmosphere." Armenian musician Djivan Gasparyan, who played the duduk in the song "Apricot Stone" and represented Armenia in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, took part.

     

    How to choose a good duduk

    Duduk is a beautiful double-reed woodwind instrument and has been used since ancient times. The word duduk is Turkish and translated as 'duduk'. The duduk has an ancient origin, and people have been using this excellent instrument since the fifth century. His pleasant voice has been used in various movies and popular shows.

    There are criteria you need to know to buy a good duduk. Duduk's vocal range is approximately 1.5 octaves. The person who will play the duduk should choose the body that is suitable for the sound he will play and the reed that is compatible with this body. Changes in the size, length, and width of the reeds also determine the sound to be produced. However, it should be known that not every cane is suitable for every stem.

    Although the reed is a significant part of the duduk, the most important part is of course the body of the duduk. This part must be in full harmony with the reed. 

    This instrument is part of deep culture and cannot be played well without fully embracing the instrument's identity. For this reason, duduk artists need to connect with their instruments and feel the duduk.

    Different versions of the duduk musical instrument are seen in other countries. In particular, the Armenian wind instrument has a special double reed. Today, many people still continue to play the duduk. You can often hear it in TV shows and movies. It was used at weddings, celebrations, and even funerals.

    Recently, the popularity of Armenian duduk music has dwindled, especially in the rural areas where it originated. The duduk instrument is played less at popular events but still remains a staged performance by professional musicians.


    Balkan Duduk

    While "Duduk" refers to a double-reed instrument, a different instrument of the same name is played in northwestern Bulgaria, incidentally. This is a block-tipped flute similar to the Serbian frula, also known as the kaval in parts of Macedonia and the duduk in northwestern Bulgaria. It is made of maple or other wood and comes in two sizes: 700–780 millimeters (28–31 inches) and 240–400 millimeters (9.4–15.7 inches) (duduce). The blocked end is straight.

    The Duduk instrument is lightweight and easy to play, making it ideal for beginners and experienced musicians alike. We have musical instruments beautifully crafted by skilled artisans to ensure the best sound quality.