Born in the early eons of Armenian history, the duduk is considered the most “Armenian” of all folk instruments, because of its origins and its ability to express the soul of the Armenian people. The Armenian duduk is a double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood, and it is indigenous to Armenia.

It is said that music has a way of speaking without words and can somehow speak directly to a person’s soul. Humankind has harnessed this language of music and expresses it through the playing of musical instruments, but the Armenian duduk is arguably one of the most powerful of all instruments in its ability to move someone in their very core. The duduk is a double-reeded wind instrument which can be traced back to 1200 BC, with Armenian duduk music cultivated from the first century BC during the reign of Armenian Emperor, Tigran the Great.

Duduk is an Armenian national musical woodwind instrument, which is an apricot wood tube with nine playing holes and a double cane. In Armenia, the duduk is also known as “tsiranapogh”, which literally translates as “apricot pipe” or “the soul of an apricot tree”.

Duduk is considered one of the oldest wind musical instruments in the world.

Duduk has a warm, soft, slightly muffled sound and velvety timbre; it is distinguished by lyricism, emotionality and expressiveness. With the sound of this instrument, peace and a high spiritual beginning are felt. Duduk, like no other instrument, is able to express the soul of the Armenian people. The famous composer Aram Khachaturian once said that a duduk is the only instrument that can make him cry. Due to the sound range, a duduk can express different moods, therefore, in Armenia, a duduk is played both during festive and mourning events.

In the modern world, duduk has become one of the popular instruments for playing music for Hollywood soundtracks. The most famous films are: “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “Gladiator”, “Alexander”, “The Passion of the Christ”, “Da Vinci Code”, “Hulk”, “Xena: Warrior Princess ”. In addition, in 2005, the music of the Armenian duduk was recognized as a masterpiece of UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage.