The Armenian duduk (pronounced "doo-DOOK") or tsiranapogh (meaning "apricot-made wind instrument") is a musical instrument with two reeds made of wood. It is made from apricot wood and comes from Armenia. Similar versions of the duduk are found in the Caucasus, the Balkans, and the Middle East. The duduk, balaban, and mey are very similar, but they differ based on their history and where they are played.

The duduk is often played by two musicians at the same time. One player makes the main melody, while the other plays a steady, continuous sound called a "dum." Together, these sounds create a full and emotional tone. The duduk has a large reed and a round body, which makes its sound more like an English horn than an oboe or bassoon. Unlike the oboe or shawm, the duduk has a much larger reed compared to its size.

In 2005, UNESCO recognized the Armenian duduk and its music as an important part of the world's cultural heritage. It was officially added to the list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2008. Music played on the duduk has also been used in many Hollywood movies.

Etymology

The word "duduk" is believed to come from the Turkish word "düğük," which means "reed pipe." Scholars like Yaşar Çağbayır and Gerard Clauson say "düğük" likely comes from the Old Turkic word "tütek," which originally meant "something that steams or smokes." Over time, this word came to describe things like a "spout," "tube," "musical pipe," or "water-pipe." In Turkish, "düğük" can also mean "whistle" in certain phrases.

Some sources, such as the Russian book Musical Instruments Encyclopedia and the American book Musical Instruments, A Comprehensive Dictionary, suggest "duduk" comes from the Persian word "tutak." Mahmut Gazimihal notes that "tutak" is a newer and less common term that might have been borrowed from Turkish.

In Armenia, the instrument is also called "tsiranapogh" (ծիրանափող in Armenian).

This instrument should not be confused with the northwestern Bulgarian folk instrument of the same name, which is discussed later under "Balkan duduk."

Overview

The duduk is a double reed instrument with a long history, dating back at least to the fifth century. Some Armenian scholars believe it existed more than 1,500 years before that. Early versions of the duduk were made from bone or cane. Today, the duduk is made entirely of wood, with a large double reed and a body crafted from aged apricot wood.

The way the duduk is tuned depends on the region where it is played. An eight-hole duduk (not counting the thumb hole on the lower side) can play ten notes in a row from a diatonic scale using simple finger positions. By partially covering the holes, it can also play sixteen notes in a chromatic scale. For example, an A duduk can play notes from F♯ up to an A more than an octave higher. Some sources may provide different information. By using the lips to adjust the pitch and partially covering the holes, any note in this range can be played, as needed for Oriental music. The length of the duduk's body varies depending on the instrument's range and the region. The reed (Armenian: եղեգն, eġegn) is made from one or two pieces of cane, arranged in a duck-bill shape. Unlike other double-reed instruments, the duduk’s reed is wide, which helps create its unique, mournful sound and requires special breathing techniques. A person who plays the duduk is called a dudukahar (դուդուկահար) in Armenian.

Players use air stored in their cheeks to continue playing while inhaling air into their lungs. This "circular" breathing technique is commonly used with double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

The duduk is usually played with the accompaniment of a second dum duduk, which adds energy and a tonic atmosphere to the music. The second instrument changes the scale harmoniously with the main duduk.

History

Armenian music experts say the duduk was used as early as 1200 BC. Some Western scholars believe it is 1,500 years old. Different types of the duduk can be found in Armenia and the Caucasus region. The history of the Armenian duduk dates back to the time when the Armenian king Tigran the Great ruled from 95 to 55 B.C. According to Dr. Jonathan McCollum, a music expert, the duduk is shown in many Armenian manuscripts from the Middle Ages. He says the duduk is "the only truly Armenian instrument that has survived through history" and is a symbol of Armenian national identity. He also notes that the most important feature of the duduk is its ability to express the sounds and emotions of the Armenian language, which is a difficult skill for a duduk player to master.

Balkan duduk

The word "duduk" usually refers to a double reed instrument described here. However, a similar instrument called a kaval is played in northwestern Bulgaria. This flute has a closed end and is similar to the Serbian frula or the kavalče found in parts of North Macedonia. It is made from maple or other types of wood and comes in two sizes: 700–780 millimetres (28–31 inches) and 240–400 millimetres (9.4–15.7 inches), also known as duduce. The closed end of the instrument is flat.

In popular culture

The sound of the duduk has become more well-known because of its use in popular movie soundtracks. Starting with Peter Gabriel's score for Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, the duduk's old and sad sound has been used in many types of movies to show different emotions. Djivan Gasparyan played the duduk in Gladiator, Syriana, and Blood Diamond, among other films. The duduk was also used often in Battlestar Galactica. In the TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender, the duduk's sound was mixed with the sound of a trombone bell to create a fake instrument called the Tsungi horn, which was played by Iroh and used in the show's music. Now that some people who worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender are working on The Dragon Prince, the duduk is also used in that show's music. The duduk's sound was also used in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for a lullaby played by Mr. Tumnus on a fake double flute, and it was used in the theme song of the Dothraki clan in the TV version of Game of Thrones.

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

The Armenian duduk has been used in many movies, especially to show feelings like loneliness, sadness, or to create a Middle Eastern or Central Asian atmosphere.

Movies with the duduk:
– Ararat (2002), composed by Mychael Danna
– Avatar (2009), in the track "Shutting Down Grace's Lab" by Nacer Khemir
– Bab'Aziz: The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul (2005), by Nacer Khemir
– Bedtime Stories (2008), by Rupert Gregson-Williams
– Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), by Joseph LoDuca
– The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), in the track "A Narnia Lullaby" by Harry Gregson-Williams
– Constantine (2005), in the track "Circle of Hell" by Brian Tyler and Klaus Badelt
– The Crow (1994), featuring Djivan Gasparyan by Graeme Revell
– Dead Man Walking (1995), by David Robbins
– Dune (2021), by Hans Zimmer, with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache
– Dune: Part Two (2024), by Hans Zimmer, with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache
– Elektra (2005), by Christophe Beck
– Gladiator (2000), in the track "Duduk of the North" by Djivan Gasparyan
– Hotel Rwanda (2004), main theme music
– Hulk (2003), with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache by Danny Elfman
– The Island (2005), by Steve Jablonsky
– The Kite Runner (2007), by Alberto Iglesias
– Munich (2005), with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache by John Williams
– Mayrig (1991), by Omar Al Sharif
– Next (2007), by Mark Isham
– The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), featuring Vatche Hovsepian by Peter Gabriel
– The Passion of The Christ (2004), with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache and Chris Bleth by John Debney
– Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), by Hans Zimmer
– Rendition (2007), by Paul Hepker and Mark Kilian, with the duduk played by Pedro Eustache
– Ronin (1998), with the duduk played by Albert Vardanyan by Elia Cmiral
– Syriana (2005), with the duduk played by Djivan Gasparyan and Pedro Eustache by Alexandre Desplat
– The Road to El Dorado (2000), by James Horner
– The Mummy (1999), by Jerry Goldsmith
– The Mummy Returns (2001), by Jerry Goldsmith
– The Phantom of the Opera (2004), by Andrew Lloyd Webber
– The Da Vinci Code (2006), by John Debney
– The Bourne Identity (2002), by John Powell
– The Bourne Supremacy (2004), by John Powell
– The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), by John Powell
– The Departed (2006), by Howard Shore
– The Dark Knight (2008), by Hans Zimmer
– The Dark Knight Rises (2012), by Hans Zimmer