Stories about the duduk
Guides to choosing an instrument, culture and notes about a beloved instrument.
Dudukist: a new website and a new chapter
Our main website and school website have a new look. Explore the video guide and our plans for social media, new articles and concert announcements.
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How to Care for Your Duduk: Storage, Oil and Common Mistakes
The duduk is living apricot wood, and good care decides how long it lasts. How to store it, when to oil it, what you should never do, and how to protect the instrument from cracks.
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The ‘student’ duduk: why beginners need a properly made instrument
Why a student label cannot excuse a poor instrument, what professional and concert labels tell you, and how to choose a reed for your first lessons.
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Is the duduk hard to learn?
An honest answer for beginners: how difficult the duduk is to master, what's the hardest part, and how long until your first melodies.
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The duduk reed: how to choose and care for it
What a duduk reed is, why the sound depends on it, and how to protect, moisten and store it. Practical tips to keep your instrument sounding great.
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Which duduk key to choose
A, B, G, C — how duduk keys differ, how they sound and what music they suit. A clear guide to the instrument's pitch.
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How to choose your first duduk
A simple guide for beginners — which duduk to buy first: key, instrument quality, material, reed and what's included. Where to start without mistakes.
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The 'Duduk by Candlelight' concert
The 'Duduk by Candlelight' and 'Duduk in the Dark' series of chamber concerts by the DUDUKIST project.
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The DUDUKIST project turns 5
2019 was an anniversary year for the DUDUKIST project — on 24 January we turned 5.
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The essence of modernising the duduk
Reflections on what development awaits the duduk's musical repertoire and the modernisation of the instrument itself.
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Foundations of the duduk-playing school
The scale, fingering and transposition, breathing, and questions of improving the instrument.
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The duduk and ice
The premiere of a unique project combining duduk music and figure skating.
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The duduk and its music: UNESCO visits Armenia
The inscription of duduk music on the UNESCO heritage list, its counterparts in neighbouring countries, technical characteristics, varieties and its sound in film and world music.
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The duduk and film music
Duduk music has been used in cinema since its very beginnings — from the film "Pepo" to "Gladiator".
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Trends in the development of the duduk repertoire in the 20th century
How the duduk entered the symphony orchestra and what professional music was created for it.
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The construction and traditional making of the duduk
What the duduk is made of — a reed mouthpiece, an apricot resonator — and what gives the instrument its velvety voice.
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Music and painting
17 November — the art-and-music project 'Our Home is Earth'.
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Arctic Days in Moscow
The project became a partner of the Federal Arctic Forum 'Arctic Days in Moscow'.
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A concert in Nalchik
20 October — the charity concert 'The Soul of the Apricot Tree' in Nalchik.
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The 5th Duduk Festival
The 5th Duduk Festival featured works by contemporary composers and Armenian folk music.
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An evening of Armenian culture
27 September — an evening of Armenian culture dedicated to the anniversary of Yerevan.
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The 'North Caucasus' festival of culture and arts
The project's musicians performed at the 'North Caucasus' festival of culture and arts.
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DUDUKIST — partner of Andrew McConnell's exhibition
The project became a partner of an exhibition by photographer Andrew McConnell, a World Press Photo winner.
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The 'Singing Arrow' festival
28–29 July — the 'Singing Arrow' ethnic-music festival featuring Gegham Oganyan.
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The 'Apricot' festival
On 8 July the project's musicians performed at the 'Apricot' festival of the Union of Armenians of Russia in Moscow.
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The duduk repertoire of the late 19th – early 20th century
How the duduk repertoire took shape: folk and professional music, genres and ensemble playing.
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Duduk-making technologies in Armenia and Transcaucasia
How the Armenian tradition of making the duduk differs from the Georgian and Azerbaijani ones: material, mouthpiece, number of holes, schools.
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Teaching guidelines for playing the duduk
A pedagogical approach to teaching: selecting students, the teacher's role, and the importance of independent practice.
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The story of the duduk
The origin, construction and development of the ancient Armenian instrument — from the first mentions to the conical form of Margar Margaryan.
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First lessons in playing the duduk
Where to begin: preparing the instrument, positioning the reed, producing sound, and the duduk's two fingerings.
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Body position when playing the duduk
How to correctly hold your body, hands and fingers when playing the duduk — the basis of free, healthy technique.
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Setting up correct breathing
The three types of breathing, the mixed type for a duduk player, and basic sound-production technique for beginners.
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The role of breathing in playing the duduk
Why breathing technique is the foundation of duduk playing, and how a duduk player's professional breathing differs from ordinary breathing.
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Varpet Rubik on life and the duduk
Master Rubik on how a duduk is born, on choosing apricot wood, and on the soul of the instrument.
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A monument to the duduk in Moscow
In 2006 a monument to the Armenian duduk was unveiled in Moscow — 'Song of the Homeland' by Frid Soghoyan and his sons.
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The legend of the duduk
A beautiful tale of the Young Wind and the apricot tree — why the duduk became a symbol of love and parting.
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The philosophy of the duduk
An essay on why the duduk is a living echo of existence, and the duduk player balances on the border of life and death.
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A trip to Armenia
On 1–5 May the project's team visited Armenia: meetings with duduk musicians and masters.
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The final of the Armenian show battles
The DUDUKIST project's musicians won the 'Best Duduk' category at the Armenian show battles.
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