While wandering the world, the Young Wind met the most beautiful apricot tree and fell madly in love with it. Running through the petals of its tenderest blossoms and brushing the notches of its leaves, he could draw out unique melodies whose sound carried for many miles.
And this music reached the Supreme Ruler of all winds — the hurricane. He learned that the Young Wind had fallen in love and flew into such a rage that he decided to destroy all plant life on earth. But when the Hurricane reached the apricot tree, the Young Wind rose to its defence, declaring that he was ready to do anything for this tree.
To this the Lord of the Winds replied: "Have it your way, but now you will never again soar into the blue heights!" The happy Breeze had already begun to fold his wings when the Hurricane stopped him: "No! Keep your wings! Remember: the moment you take flight, your tree will die!" The Young Wind was content — now he had both love and wings.
Autumn came. The apricot tree shed all its leaves and stood bare. The Breeze had nothing left to play with, and he felt a terrible longing. All around, his kin fluttered and made merry, calling him to join them. He couldn't hold back the urge and rose into the heights — and the tree died at once, leaving only a single twig in which a fragment of the breeze remained tangled.
Some time later, a boy gathering firewood found this twig and decided to make a little pipe from it — a duduk. It had a unique sound: the moment you began to play, it was as if a mournful melody of parting rang out.
That is why this instrument is considered a symbol of love and parting.
