Duduk: An Introduction

In this video, I introduce you to the wonderful world of the Duduk, known in some contexts as the Balaban.

[@carinaaugust643]

I love that you mentioned that Armenian duduk is made from apricot wood. In fact, another name for duduk in Armenia is ծիրանափող (tsiranapogh), meaning “apricot pipe". Thank you so much for this video, I'm Armenian and I greatly enjoyed it! Also, you play the instrument beautifully.

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you!

[@carlosacta8726]

Vontses? God bless Armenia!

[@alicantuncer4800]

Interesting. There is a city called Malatya in Turkey. Malatya is very famous for its apricot (especially dried) and that region was also inhabited by large number of Armenians for thousands of years till 20th century.

[@ChessPlayer78]

kzbin.info_LipjqBVJwY?feature=share

[@DarkSideOfTheGame22]

@@alicantuncer4800 that’s were my father was born an Armenian from Malatya Turkey

[@kedo009]

"I'm in no way an expert" *proceeds to play like a pro.

[@FilipHolm]

Oh I definitely don't play like a pro

[@kedo009]

@@FilipHolm definitely u got what it takes to be one :))

[@johannaalbertse4011]

It is the saddest but also most beautiful sound I have ever heard. With little imagination you are transported to the windswept hills of Armenia.

[@asad-kc8zf]

The sound... cry of the soul.

[@anniepauleeslous654]

❤

[@jenna2431]

Omg...I'm an improvisational cellist and I need to find someone who plays a duduk. I think the two would be an amazing combination.

[@FilipHolm]

Oh for sure!

[@mekmekh]

check out vanity fair's interview with Hans Zimmer about the Dune 2 soundtrack.... you called the duo 6 months ago!

[@CultureDuduk]

Duduk is the spirit, the voice of the soul ✨

[@captebbtide]

Excellent tutorial on history, customs and mechanics of duduk. Mine arrived last week straight from Yerevan (shipping delayed by the war) and am so pleased! It's beautiful and will, like most instruments, definitely require a commitment on my part to study and practice -- it's not a plastic kazoo! The sound of duduk, it's haunting quality, has that ability to reach into the soul, where the language is music, and calls forth joy, peace, melancholy and sadness. The duduk is truly.. the soul of Armenia!

[@FilipHolm]

That's awesome! Indeed it does take work to learn and master, but it is definitely worth it when the resulting sound is so beautiful! (Not that I have 'mastered' it yet)

[@vagramvardanyan9407]

This ancient musical instrument always gives me goosebumps, this ancient instrument made from the wood of Armeniaca (the apricot tree) is so old samples over 3,000 years old have been found in Armenia and Anatolia.

[@wrsdes]

You are a naturally gifted Duduk player Sir. Happy for you. I have no words to explain the inner peace felt by listning to your Duduk playing.

[@SportyOtterPop]

OH!!!!!!! I am totally fascinated with the duduk, for a while now; and this is exactly what I needed and didn't know until I found it! Thank you!

[@SportyOtterPop]

Must you wet the reed first, like with bassoon or oboe?

[@FilipHolm]

Basically, yeah.

[@Siciliansuperman]

Hey Filip, love your music and religion channel. Thanks for covering the duduk, you are a great player. Love from Yerevan, Armenia.

[@Mondgeist7777]

Armenians are great people! A lot of fantastic Ud players hail from Armenia!

[@FilipHolm]

Definitely!

[@markusjaggli548]

What people are not great?

[@Mondgeist7777]

@@markusjaggli548 You are absolutely correct! Right! All people are great. My statement is in context of the fact that this presentation is about the instrument in question … the Dudek, and to the fact that a lot Armenian musicians play the Duduk. I also have Armenians friends, and Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, and Jewish who are Musicians. Swedes are great too!

[@carlosacta8726]

Amazing! Like a clarinet and flute combined.

[@FilipHolm]

It is a great instrument!

[@cutechiangels]

Thanks Filip for this explanatory video, of one of my favourite instruments, the duduk! 👌🙏🎶 (I only have 4 favorite 😉) There are other major duduk players around, and also some womem players. Have you heard of Lucie Lelaurain, she's a very dedicated player. And, Anastasiia Krascheniikova, another wonderful player. The few women in the field. I'm a singer and soundtherapist, and use various ancient type instruments. I also studied oud, bağlama and sal manufacturing in Turkey. 🙂 Yes, the duduk has a very organic sound. 👌I had the chance to play on one, a few years ago. Loved it! Me too, I would want time to invest in playing it really well. You play it great! I'm going to purchase a duduk soon. A GGA is one of the best. Which one would you recommend, for relaxation? A bass, or one in B flat? And, which one to play with others in a group? Should I get soft and hard mouth pieces, immediately? Btw, being a fine art painter too, I wonder who made the painting at 19:25? Very deep and full of the Christ emotion on his calvary. 👌 🎨 Thanks for your content and your perfect English. 🙏🌟😊

[@truesay786]

This sound always pulls me into a state of muraqaba … I recall how Firabi was able to play make people laugh weep and then fall asleep.

[@ChessPlayer78]

kzbin.info_LipjqBVJwY?feature=share

[@Babbajune]

I think I would describe the sound of this instrument as 'hauntingly beautiful or mysterious' - and simply awesome. Enjoyed the presentation! ❤

[@FilipHolm]

Pretty good description I think!

[@alexrodriguez4643]

I follow your other channel and had no idea you had this channel. I love studying ethnomusicology so this is right down my aisle

[@kedo009]

21:50 chills and tears my heart luvd that symphony u played .

[@FilipHolm]

That's very kind of you! 🙂

[@CaughtRedHanged]

Thank you for this amazing and in-depth introduction and a love your mentioning of its use in Peter Gabriels album "Passion", which was also my first introduction to it. Little nerdy titbit: probably the most iconic melody of this album is the Armenian folk song "the wind subsides" featured in the opening song "The feeling begins", played mostly by the late Vache Artashesi Hovsepyan who passed away in 1978, so Peter Gabriel must have used a really good recording of his from the 70ties.

[@gegart01]

So love Armenian Sound! It’s a magic

[@tolgacan13]

Thanks for the great info and performance. Even though I am from Turkey, among those instruments you mentioned, "duduk" sounds the most divine to my ears.

[@markchindemi1438]

Thank you for this. I love this flute, too, and hope to play it with true heart

[@kedo009]

Shi- It took me a sec to realize u were actually playing the Duduk, heh we dig.

[@nuhamansour3790]

I loved the sound of the dubuk, and I loved what you told us about it. Thank you.

[@mwj5368]

You profess both musically and in the ways of teaching. It's like if someone transcribed your narrative it could go directly into publication and your music directly into a recording, wow! You have a cogent and lucid way of teaching that is intuitive. Apparitions occurred as you performed. I thought of movies I'd seen in my lifetime where I'd heard this instrument and you bring out the beauty of it so profoundly! I get this feeling of connection to a distant past of a far different mind-set, culture. Its like hearing a distant and lost language returning in an ethereal and mesmerizing way. I sense a lost architecture too, that of temples, colonnades of infinite space. There is a softness to the light too as I experienced alone at the Parthenon many years ago in the full moon. The guards were on strike, the Acropolis was closed. I climbed a tree and surmounted the fence-line. You took me there again, your professorship surpassing all fence-lines in an age of all too many fence-lines and bombs and poverty, but you are one of a wealth all your own. Thank you for your world class teaching and performance. Namaste!

[@TheFreeRunPorject]

Been looking at buying one for a while. I think this convinced me

[@FilipHolm]

Awesome!

[@hipnicjack7237]

Wow high quality content as always. Interesting that "düdük" is a very common word in Turkey but it is used specifically for "referee whistle" or toy whistles for kids

[@FilipHolm]

That is indeed interesting!

[@ozan2578]

Isn't Balaban the Turkish version of this instrument?

[@ghaushahinfinity4910]

Loved watching this. Thank you for sharing. It’s such a beautiful instrument. I would love to play this. I could play flute, penny whistle and recorder a very long time ago. But I do realize that the Duduk is most pleasant to my ear and soul.

[@Hoireabard]

You sound like an expert to me. It’s a beautiful instrument and you’re always interesting.

[@Anicca88]

At first I thought you were saying the name of the Turkish instrument wrong, "Mey".. I only knew of a similar instrument, predominantly used in Turkish Sufi music, called the "Ney". Today I learnt that the 'Mey' and the 'Ney' are two distinct but similiar instruments :).. Thanks again for all the knowledge you share on your channels.

[@FilipHolm]

That was confusing for me at first, too :)

[@foodog777]

The duduk was mentioned in a making of Furiosa doc but wasn’t played or shown. I came here and immediately recognized the sound from Hans Zimmer’s Dune soundtracks. Thank you! 🙏

[@ggauche3465]

Very difficult to play. You do a good job! Congrats. Please, more vids like this!

[@thomasomuller7995]

So beautiful. Really wonderful! I think you have understood the soul of the duduk like few others have. Thank you so much. Your playing touched me deeply.

[@jmiscreant]

My first introduction to the duduk was on System of a Down's album Toxicity. The hidden track at the end of Aerials features a duduk. I love its almost clarinet-like sound.

[@FilipHolm]

Very formative album for me!

[@pavinhautavanija8406]

I have been watching your videos about history. Didn’t know you also make musics. Stunning 😍

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you 😊

[@Ariannie272]

Thanks for this video, I really enjoy your videos and scholarship. A similar instrument called دو زه له in Kurdish (Iranian region) which literally means "two reeds"

[@comedyandtragedy1227]

in iraqi kurdish region we just call it دودوك

[@Ariannie272]

@@comedyandtragedy1227 that's very Intersting. I am curious, do you speak Sorani or Kurmanji?

[@Ariannie272]

@@comedyandtragedy1227 Actually after further research online I think I confused 2 different instruments. It seems Douzala is quite different from Duduk

[@FilipHolm]

Love all the regional vatiations of instruments!

[@comedyandtragedy1227]

@@Ariannie272 kurmanji

[@martinskage2012]

Any tips where I could purchase this beautiful sounding instrument?

[@charlesrat3703]

I first heard the duduk when I heard Djivan Gasparyan's contribution to the soundtrack for Atom Egoyan's The Adjuster. It was enchanting and deeply mournful. It has also hard to find much information accessable to a lay-person. Thanks for this.

[@-LTUIiiin]

Amazing video Your playing is wonderful. Cant wait for more such videos!!!

[@efstratiosfilis2290]

Fantastic Filip! Thank you for this exceptional introduction.

[@mariaaaa1128]

The melody you played reminded me of a soundtrack from the sufist movie Ba' Aziz. It's beautiful.

[@FilipHolm]

Bab'aziz is one of my favorite films! I believe that is Levon Minassian playing.

[@murphymystical1220]

​@@FilipHolm yes it is Levon Minassin and Armand Amar.. that brought me here

[@chendaforest]

Beautiful Filip. You and your fellow Swede Mentour pilot are my favourite you tubers by far. Science and religion a nice balance :)

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you!

[@arethmaran1279]

Glad I finally am able to place the sound that always screams 'Middle East' in movies and TV.

[@CrisFerrerYT]

21:21 Whether a master of it or not, brother you sounded beautiful on that melody/ improvisation.

[@someguy7680]

Absolutely fabulous video. Someone I know just bought a duduk was a great way to hear and learn about it. Think I have to get one myself now. Really well done on this! Your playing is fabulous too.

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you! It's a fun instrument to play!

[@christyalmartin7400]

This episode reminds me of "Sassy the Sasquatch" 💓 your work. Bloopers had me rolling. Had a hard day . Soo thanks.

[@cliffpakiry4413]

Very nice please can you suggest a dukduk manufactures where we can order duduk thanks you very much for your beautiful play.

[@itznoxy7193]

Great demonstration and beautiful playing. I’m curious; has anyone tried to make a keyed/chromatic version? Also has anyone tried the reed on an oboe or clarinet body?

[@FilipHolm]

Good question! Not that I know of!

[@Jaraqqeh]

I had no idea you have this channel! Subscribed ✨😍

[@CCCP_Again]

A version of duduk is used in the local music of GIlgit Baltistan especially in Burushaski culture. It is called tutek but it sounds completely different to the duduk.

[@rebeccabeland5089]

Tack Filip!! It’s a wonderful video, you convey the appreciation you’ve got for the instrument and culture. It inspired me :) I’ve got a duduk, which I bought on eBay before knowing anything really about the instrument. The reed has got a little f imprinted below, so I’m assuming it’s tuned in F? Or what other way is there to find out? Maybe you’ve got an answer :) much love

[@nigelmason6722]

Great video, well played. Thanks for your information. Watching the video has encouraged me to get out my duduk and continue to learn. Thank you Filip.

[@baronesselsavonfreytag-lor1134]

OMG I am really excited to explore this channel because my true love is ethnomusicology. You are really a treasure, Filip.

[@celtislam]

Allah x beautiful instrument and you play so well brother sublime!

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you!

[@wrsdes]

Hi Filip. The reed instrument and the drum played at 11:11 on your video looks like the horn + drum like instrument played during Hindu festivals in Kovils(Place of religious worship by Hindus) . Any comments please?

[@OvalNowhere]

A very fine presentation of the duduk! Thank you!

[@davnadz]

now i want one

[@markc1234golf]

just beautiful instrument i got goose pimples at the end listening to your playing literally

[@SmokeDef007]

Awesome, I would like to see more of this

[@FilipHolm]

Then you're in luck!

[@less2worryabout]

Yay very nice sound...

[@radiogrinch]

What duduk would you recommend to buy for a beginner with no experience in woodwind instruments?

[@JRBecraftMPH]

Very informative and beautiful sound. Thanks.

[@chrisdecato]

I'll never forget hearing peter gabriels passion soundtrack in the 90s... it was so inspiring! still is! I could never find a double reed instrument I could play, so I stuck to the whistles I could get my hands on and head around! Is there a good starter instrument you might recommend? Great playing!!

[@saftigesfruchtchen456]

I did not knew you make music content as well. Love it.

[@dudeonthasopha]

This was awesome, if you have a shakuhachi I'd love to see it. I've always wanted to learn to play one.

[@FilipHolm]

Unfortunately not! (yet)

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

I bet you could play a bangin yet soulful version of My Heart Will Go On on a duduk.

[@FilipHolm]

Don't tempt me!

[@YuriMocellin]

Hello my friend, amazing channel do you have here! I already followed your other channel and now this one too. One question, this duduk are from the Luthier ALBERT POGHOSIAN? If not, could you tell us the maker for me to search a similar one? I already have one duduk, bought on ebay but it's not in tune... So I'm glad if you could help me here as an Hermetic Musician!

[@FilipHolm]

Thank you! No I'm pretty sure it is not by Poghosian. I ordered it directly from an acquaintance in Armenia. I honetly don't remember the name of the person who made the duduk, I would have to dig it up somewhere.

[@YuriMocellin]

@@FilipHolm great man, I have 2 duduks that I bought on ebay, but they are not in precise tune neither have a great sound as yours. I hope I could get a decent one without having to travel to Armênia 😅 Also, it's a sincronicity how we have só much themes in commun, I'm one of the partes esoteric channels of Brazil and also really like the hermetic and ancient music styles... it speeks to the soul.

[@lin_sigartau]

Thank you 🙏

[@ulrikeheyden7387]

Thank you for this introduktuon!! Which Dudukmaker wich Duduks are the best in your opinion? Ulrike

[@RW-Navigator]

could you tell my what key you play at 21:54? You sound really good on the duduk btw

[@DrJones-vz7qx]

Dude, you are awesome!

[@yon4209]

I'm sorry but there's no debate. It's an Armenian instrument.

[@morleriassternutatio8150]

sehr interessant und die ausdrücklichen Unterschiede als auch Ähnlichen kriterien zu ähnlich klingenden Instrumenten. Vom Klang bis zur Ton Erzeugung Vielen Dank

[@annettebeckett4671]

Africa has something similar has higher pitch. Often called the penny whistle. Looks similar

[@tinytr0ll]

Sounds so dramatic, would be heard in movie when everything goes bad.

[@gabrielarturmonteirorodrig8625]

Yeah... This seems of time but Gladiator and Dune are good examples!

[@Kristiansand808]

That was a very beautiful piece you played, would that be considered a maqam? Or how would one find similar pieces on the internet, a solo duduk piece with a sustained note? I love this music and wish to purchase a duduk in the future.

[@alexmusic2024]

Can someone tell me where to buy a good quality Duduk in the EU? I fall in love with the wonderful warm sounding instrumental an i want to learn it. Thank you 🙏

[@FilipHolm]

Do you want to order one online?

[@marinagiuliarazza6628]

@@FilipHolmI would like to, where can I search for it?

[@vidtrax662]

Spiritually Haunting indeed.

[@jeancaraballo2522]

What tuning is the duduk that you played at the end? I have a duduk tuned to A but it is low, I want a more subtle tuning.

[@FilipHolm]

If I remember correctly, I believe that one was the Duduk in Bb, played in the key of C.

[@andycoe23]

To my mind, any kind of reed will give you a beautiful sound

[@wesleykalor5267]

I always preferred oboe over higher pitched such as clarinet. So when first exposed to Duduk it was enchanting. I am finding American music far less enjoyable because of the lack of influences of mid eastern culture and sound. I am intrigued by Armenian and Slavic as well as farther east instruments of many kinds. My friends no longer understand me as an audiophile. 😁😎🎼

[@giorgiobacciardi8433]

Beautiful!

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

absolutely beautiful sound. As a creator of KZbins, where could I find any copyright free music of the duduk

[@FilipHolm]

It's hard to find! Don't think I've ever found any (at least that sounded good)

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

@@FilipHolm I did find some songs on Artlist with the Duduk, but as you said, not as good from what I heard you playing

[@wael4070]

I've expected a Swedish guy playing metal found a swede playing oriental instruments

[@FilipHolm]

I mean, it's kind of both

[@-LTUIiiin]

Sweden has everything from Meshuggah to bladee. Its wonderful

[@MoriSauro]

This is super informative. Thank you. Thank you very much!

[@przemysawrumas3969]

thank you for that , what kind of reverb do you use at the beginning?

[@FilipHolm]

I think for this one it was either just the standard reverb in Reason or another one called Raum

[@OneMansOdyssey]

Hi, Filip. I noticed a lot of Duduk playing has an almost reverb quality to it. Is this an effect that is normally added in post-processing, or does it naturally occur when playing in the proper environment?

[@FilipHolm]

I tend to add a bit of reverb to the recordings, as it really enhances the sound of the instrument. But that's only because I record in my apartment. In the right environments, it can have a similar effect for sure!

[@OneMansOdyssey]

@@FilipHolm Thank you! By the way, I love your religions channel and I just happened to find this channel after buying a duduk. You do great at both!

[@jeancaraballo2522]

Which túne duduk was used in gladiator ? And the movies ? Pasión of christ

[@jrmhrpr]

Clapping sound. ❤

[@RuiCBGLima]

I'm thinking of geting one, maybe with 2 or 3 reeds. But how much does it cost?

[@ketanastik7197]

The blow of air from your mouth blows soul in the duduk

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

why am I just now learning about this other channel????

[@FilipHolm]

Better late than never! Although I'm currently doing a push to be more active here, so that's probably why

[@baronesselsavonfreytag-lor1134]

Me, too, and it's my other dream channel! There IS a God 🙏

[@Psionetics]

Great video!

[@AlexanderZevs]

Очень здорово 👍

[@DraCuLrX8]

what a beutiful instrument

[@mwarsell]

Thank you for this. However, I don't think the duduk sounds like that in that room. Added reverb to it? Please mention things like these. Thanks.

[@FilipHolm]

If I remember correctly, reverb is definitely added for the performance at the end, but not for earlier parts of the video.

[@granultra]

My question is ... does exist a chromatic duduke? Or something like that

[@FilipHolm]

You can play chromatically by covering only half the hole(s)!

[@robertomello3677]

Que som lindo. Lembro uma música do Yanni com essa flauta....🎼🎶🎵😉

[@lazarusmoment4682]

Hej Filip! Underbar video och väldigt vackert spelat. Jag har precis givit mig in på att lära mig spela Duduk, jag köpte en som ska vara i tonarten C. Jag vet att den vanligaste tonarten är A. Men jag tycker det verkar som att alla videor jag har sett med duduk i C, så låter den inte likadant som min, det kanske beror på en sämre kvalite på rörbladet eller något. Till en nybörjare, vad har du för tips? Och var rekommenderar du att köpa sin Duduk? Tack! Mvh

[@FilipHolm]

Tack så mycket! Det kan mycket väl vara rörbladet! På vilket sätt upplever du att det låter annorlunda? När jag köpte mina duduks så gjorde jag det direkt via en kontaktperson i Armenien, men det var ett par år sedan senast. Jag vet att det har blivit mycket lättare att få tag på på senare tid. Har bl.a. hört bra saker om "Sala Muzik" (och har en rätt bra Tanbur jag köpte av dem). Kan inte bekräfta om deras duduks är av hög kvalitét eller inte (eftersom jag inte har prövat dem själv), men de verkar vara ett seriöst företag.

[@fellowsinner9683]

Middle East video game level flute

[@FilipHolm]

Yep!