MosJan Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/pictures/marsden219.jpg Mount Ararat Evocation of a lost land. from Resurgence issue 219 back to top THE ARMENIAN DUDUK is a small, clarinet-type instrument made typically from a single length of apricot wood. It has only eight holes and a thumb hole and its effects are created by the reverberations of a double or slit-tube reed, made of cane. It is notoriously difficult to play well. But when it is, the sound that comes from it is so haunting that I challenge anyone not to be transported by it, to find themselves at once among the high plains of Western Asia - even if they have never set eyes on them. Its expressive power is often compared to that of the human voice, but I think in its particular register it goes further even than that. The simple, gliding notes bypass the senses and burrow straight to the soul. Such a sound could not be kept secret for long. It was that musical explorer, Peter Gabriel, who is credited with introducing the duduk to a wider Western audience in 1988. The Last Temptation of Christ was the first of many film scores to use the duduk. But listen to it without the films, free of associations; and you should prepare yourself carefully: ensure you are near a window with a decent view, empty your head of thought, and sit down. I was sitting down, by chance, when I first heard it, and I had a decent view. It was late on a bright morning in April 1991. I was in a café in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. For the best part of a year I had been on my way to Armenia, living in and travelling through Armenian communities. I was immensely tired, undernourished, and in that strange heady state of sustained isolation. Through the café's window it was possible to glimpse the vast distant snowcap of Ararat - across the border, in Turkey. When the first inflected notes of the duduk came through the speakers of that café, I was astonished. How could something so simple manage to distil every mile that had led me there? And there was something else: the response - an extraordinary subconscious reaction among the Armenians in that café. When they heard the duduk, everyone in their various poses subtly acknowledged Ararat, a quick glance at it or a subtle shift in their seats towards it. Within moments, they had all very slightly realigned themselves to the mountain. "I have cultivated in myself a sixth sense, an 'Ararat' sense: the sense of attraction to a mountain," wrote the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam when visiting Armenia in 1930. In Mount Ararat, the Armenians of Yerevan have a visible manifestation of their exile: forbidden Ararat, divided from them by miles of barbed-wire frontier. But for those others, the thousands of Armenians scattered around the globe, music is a rather more portable evocation of lost land. There is a degree to which much music is about exile. The yearning for a homeland is a precise articulation of the general sense of loss which certain instruments, songs and scores bring out. That is one reason why the musical tradition of the Armenians is so distinct and evocative. Part of the power of the duduk comes from the practice of playing it in pairs. The flights of the lead duduk are grounded with a second duduk, a drone, known as the dam. The role of the damkash is to sustain a single note by circular breathing, drawing breath in through the nose while at the time expelling it through the lips - not easy. For 1,500 years, the duduk has been used by the Armenians: at weddings, funerals, victories and defeats, gatherings of all kinds. This short length of apricot wood is capable not only of introducing us to a vast area of hitherto unknown cultural traditions, but also of reminding us of their universal aspects. The growth in World Music in the last decade or so has thrown up many gems, but few as distinctive as the duduk. o Recommended listening: The Music of Armenia, vols I-VI (Celestial Harmonies, US) [Vol III concentrates on the duduk] Djivan Gasparyan - Heavenly Duduk (World Network, Germany) Djivan Gasparyan - I Will Not be Sad in this World (Land Records, UK) Philip Marsden is a travel writer and novelist, and author of The Crossing Place: A Journey Among the Armenians (Flamingo, 1994). http://resurgence.gn.apc.org/issues/marsden219.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gurgen Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 The Crossing Place is a great book. Good to see Marsden is still devoting his energies to the Armenian cause. Who said British are swine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 ARMENIAN DUDUK TO BE INCLUDED INTO MASTERPIECES OF HUMAN CULTURAL HERITAGE YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5. ARMINFO. The Armenian national wind instrument duduk will be included into the number of masterpieces of human cultural heritage, Secretary-General of the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO Karina Danielyan told ARMINFO. She said that UNESCO headquarters perceived this idea positively, and already in November, 2004, a group of experts will present a collection of information on the ancient Armenian wind instrument duduk for inclusion into the program implemented by UNESCO "Proclamation of masterpieces of oral and nonmaterial cultural heritage of humanity." The collection of information must contain a proof that duduk is a masterpiece of the Armenian wind culture, as musicians in many countries play on this instrument. However, it is acknowledged that it is made from an apricot tree, which is scientifically called "Prunus Armeniaca," Danielyan said. One of the most important factors for its inclusion into the program is grounding that duduk's existence will be endangered as a cultural phenomenon in case if it is not given every support. In this case, the stress will be put on the fact that modernization for commercial purposes affects the sounding of the instrument. Karina Danielyan said that due to contribution of the Armenian Ministry for Cultural and Youth Affairs, two documentary films are shot, which contain materials on the first chronicle of origination of the instrument in Armenia. Duduk's inclusion into the program of nonmaterial cultural heritage of UNESCO will create many opportunities for development of institutes wherein lessons of duduk will be given. An academy of duduk, a UNESCO department of duduk may be established, a class of duduk at the Yerevan Conservatory, she said. According to specialists in music, the world known duduk player Jivan Gasparyan played a great role in propaganda of duduk as a wind instrument. Gasparyan's music sounds in a number of popular Hollywood movies, such as "Gladiator" and "Onegin." It should be noted that the first proclamation on the program was the Japanese theatre of shadows Kabuki in 1998. In the South Caucasus, the Georgian "polyphony" was the first to be included into the program, then goes Azerbaijani mugham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 nice to knwo that i'm not all by my self any mor and Jivan is not the only one / way befo jivan many others have start the hard work of duduk in hollywood many duduk players have been recordet and are still recorded - like Albert is the most ricorded duduk Artist Now days - i knwo over 100 none-Armenians who can playe duduk much much much nicer then jivan. in anycase nice to see that duduk is geting some mor attantion in Armenia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Then who will write the ultimate duduk fantasy? James Galway has immortalized AK's Violin Concerto playing on the flute. Who will write a concerto for duduk and orchestra to be played at the Armenian Philharmonisc, the Moscow Symphony, the LondonSymphony and NY Philharmonic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 concerto for duduk it will be hard super hard our duduk up till now was only 1 and a half octaves total of 10 keys wan for a concerto you need a instrument that has a at list 2 and half or 3 octaves - total of 21 keys the most I was able to make is 15 keys - same as this ( see pic ) but has 2 extra's http://www.duduk.com/Arm-music-ins/Duduk/Duduks-main/Duduks-By-OMO/A3-duduk/MVC-003F.JPG wan we add so many metal parts to it - the sound is not the same. Have been working on a new design for the last 2 years – no metal parts at all or us lethal as passable Ehhh only if I had more time and one extra working hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 concerto for duduk it will be hard super hard our duduk up till now was only 1 and a half octaves total of 10 keys wan for a concerto you need a instrument that has a at list 2 and half or 3 octaves - total of 21 keys style_images/master/snapback.png Movses jan, why do you think they need 2 octaves. It will go solo most of the time and duduk's melody can be a simple one within a 1.5 octave, although a realy good composer can make an incredible melody even of 1 octave. Duduk's sound is so peculiar that even if the player takes just 1 note for 30 seconds and than another one for another 30 seconds, while the orchestra plays some grand simphony in the background that would already make it a great thing. Don't know...Maybe I shall write one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) Movses jan, why do you think they need 2 octaves. It will go solo most of the time and duduk's melody can be a simple one within a 1.5 octave, although a realy good composer can make an incredible melody even of 1 octave. Duduk's sound is so peculiar that even if the player takes just 1 note for 30 seconds and than another one for another 30 seconds, while the orchestra plays some grand simphony in the background that would already make it a great thing. Don't know...Maybe I shall write one style_images/master/snapback.png Quite!! Not so quick Mosjan. Don't give up so easy. The recorder, much like the duduk is an all non-metal instrument and yet how many musical pieces are there featuring it. Listen to this; http://perso.wanadoo.fr/festesdethalie/NEW%20RECORDER.html As idicated above musicians can work wonders writing music to fit the range of an instrument. There mey even be a Concerto for Tabla/Tmbug. Armen, are you a musician? How about you writing a Concerto for Duduk? Another wish of mine is that someone write an oratorio based on the Anlreli Zangakatun. Speaking of oratorios. Has anyone else heard Barsegh Kanachian's oratotio about a pilgrimage to Sb. Karapet od Mush also known as "Nanor"? Edited October 5, 2004 by Arpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 good composer - needs to learn duduk - know teh basics of it i have seen so many good composer writ work / play on the keybord or piano - then ask a duduk master to play the same composer need's to knwo the basics of duduk or shvi or zurna tehn teh person who is going to arreange also ) the best person in LA for arranging is KArlen Mirzoyan of Tgzar he did help us make 2 new duduk's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Don't give up so easy I'm not as I say i have been working a a new duduk for the last 2 years on a recorder you can get up to 3 octavs on duduk you can;t do thsi just liek on ricorder - our Armenian SHvi also you can push up to 3 ~4 octavs wan on duduk you can't - it has a reed that will not play of you over blow or under blow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Quite!! Not so quick Mosjan. Don't give up so easy. The recorder, much like the duduk is an all non-metal instrument and yet how many musical pieces are there featuring it. Listen to this; http://perso.wanadoo.fr/festesdethalie/NEW%20RECORDER.html As idicated above musicians can work wonders writing music to fit the range of an instrument. There mey even be a Concerto for Tabla/Tmbug. Armen, are you a musician? How about you writing a Concerto for Duduk? Another wish of mine is that someone write an oratorio based on the Anlreli Zangakatun. style_images/master/snapback.png No I am not musician but I can play some piano. There are many concertos with 1 or 1.5 octave instruments. Anoushik can bring some examples later. I forgot. But I know for sure there is one with norwegian horn, which is a simpler instrument than duduk. There are lot of concertos with this kind of instruments, which usually go solo. Like there is one with Russian "rozhok" (very similar to zourna) etc etc. However, as Movses rightly noticed the composer must be willing to play some duduk and learn it. Writing it on the piano just won't work or it will not be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Armen SIMPLE or SIMPLER on duduk you have a reed - befor you start playing you tune teh reed - to duduk - tu tune you adjust the amaunt or air that will pass tro the reed - Orinak > the reed for duduk A most make a Not / nota of -=C=- by it's self - then you place the reed on to the duduk and see if you get A key on #1 and #6 holes do some more fintuning and your don - now - to jump a octav you need to more or less air in to the duduk - wan you overblow - it will not be in tune - wan you underblow it will not be in tue since teh reed will not make sound ( Nota/Key ) of -= C =- if you wish to have mor info find a 1987 Noyak 10 year old and stop by Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Who said British are swine? I said so, and can prove it in a court of law! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) Armen SIMPLE or SIMPLER on duduk you have a reed - befor you start playing you tune teh reed - to duduk - tu tune you adjust the amaunt or air that will pass tro the reed - Orinak > the reed for duduk A most make a Not / nota of -=C=- by it's self - then you place the reed on to the duduk and see if you get A key on #1 and #6 holes do some more fintuning and your don - now - to jump a octav you need to more or less air in to the duduk - wan you overblow - it will not be in tune - wan you underblow it will not be in tue since teh reed will not make sound ( Nota/Key ) of -= C =- if you wish to have mor info find a 1987 Noyak 10 year old and stop by style_images/master/snapback.png I meant it is not a multy octave one. Actually, how do you take a half-tone on duduk, like diez or bemol of some key? Edited October 5, 2004 by ArmeN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Armen jan you do a Half Hole Kes MAt - mat@ verev kan nerqev sharjelov iy da e VArpetutyun@ Sa amborj Antsqn e ( ) Sa Bemol@ () ) Sa Dias@ # ( () tsatskum es gunavor mas@ antsqi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 I meant it is not a multy octave one. Actually, how do you take a half-tone on duduk, like diez or bemol of some key? style_images/master/snapback.png yes it is teh defolt of Rajok ( same as Armenia PAku ) is A Rajok if you overbolow you get an octav higher if you underblow you get octave lower Axper jan inchu es tanjum indz yes www.duduk.com'u MOvses@ qez vor asum em chi lini uremn chi lini mihchev nor gortsiq mejter chhanenq esa patmutyun@ - kam primitiv mi concert eq grelu - kam el mi mard@ mek angamits 2 duduk e n@vagelu / inchpes yete @endhamen@ 1 beran uni muys@ ho ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Armen jan you do a Half Hole Kes MAt - mat@ verev kan nerqev sharjelov iy da e VArpetutyun@ Sa amborj Antsqn e ( ) Sa Bemol@ () ) Sa Dias@ # ( () tsatskum es gunavor mas@ antsqi style_images/master/snapback.png Man, that's briliant! Thanks, Movses jan. Always thought about how do they do that. Never had a chance to ask someone. Mos, you removed one of the greatest misteries of my life. What can I say, Viva HF! Half-hole, of course it's the half... I could never have guessed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 "you removed one of the greatest misteries of my life" iysinqn ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 iysinqn ??? style_images/master/snapback.png Misht mtatsum ei te duduki naman gortsiqneri vra vonts en bemol kam diez vertsnum. Chei mtatsel vor tsaki kes en pakum u deiz a stacvum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) yes it is teh defolt of Rajok ( same as Armenia PAku ) is A Rajok if you overbolow you get an octav higher if you underblow you get octave lower Axper jan inchu es tanjum indz yes www.duduk.com'u MOvses@ qez vor asum em chi lini uremn chi lini mihchev nor gortsiq mejter chhanenq esa patmutyun@ - kam primitiv mi concert eq grelu - kam el mi mard@ mek angamits 2 duduk e n@vagelu / inchpes yete @endhamen@ 1 beran uni muys@ ho ....... style_images/master/snapback.png Bayc inchu es kartsum 1 duduke heriq chi? Inch anpaymana asenq ete simphonia grvi, meji duduki mase shat bard meghedi lini. Chem kartsum. Kara duduki meghedin shat parz lini. Edited October 6, 2004 by Armen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 ok axper jan du gri yes k@nvagem menak te tor mi qich hangsatanam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Hangstatsar Mos? Himi asem inch es anum. Arnum es mi hat "Distortion", duduke kptsnum es dran amplifier-i mijocov u GNATS. Kataghats dzen kstacvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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