master - Alexduduk
The Duduk Workshop.
Here the soul is born.
Dudukmaster Alexduduk
The musician, the master maker of duduk and its' components
The Master Alexduduk. The love of duduk, the musical education and training, years of learning the fine intricacies of the art of playing the duduk from G. Minasov, the experience in wood craftsmanship – all these have led to this unique case when the one who is not of Armenian descent makes duduks according to the highest standards and personal preferences.
What is the professional duduk?
The material
Armenian wild apricot tree.
Its' collection, preparation and drying are done in Armenia.
Only after the wood is fully dried, it is transported to the workshop studio.
Its' collection, preparation and drying are done in Armenia.
Only after the wood is fully dried, it is transported to the workshop studio.
The treatment
To treat the apricot wood is not an easy task. All the work is done manually, from the outer form to the inner channel and holes. All has to be done strictly according to the correct proportions set on millimeter scale, only then will it have the perfect sound according to the proper musical scale.
The toning
The wood is toned only with organic natural oxidizers, no chemical dyers whatsoever.
The secret of that process was passed on from the master to disciple throughout thousands of years.
The natural toning has no chemical smell and does not tamper with the wood; instead it strengthens and disinfects the wood.
The secret of that process was passed on from the master to disciple throughout thousands of years.
The natural toning has no chemical smell and does not tamper with the wood; instead it strengthens and disinfects the wood.
The tuning
It is the most demanding and challenging moment.
At that phase any wrong move can ruin the duduk.
The tuning of duduk is akin to jeweller`s fine work.
Every hole is tried and tested, thoroughly filed and polished – it is tuned to the ideal perfect tone.
The tuning of just one duduk can take a few days.
At that phase any wrong move can ruin the duduk.
The tuning of duduk is akin to jeweller`s fine work.
Every hole is tried and tested, thoroughly filed and polished – it is tuned to the ideal perfect tone.
The tuning of just one duduk can take a few days.
The quality mouthpiece reed
Without reed the duduk will not produce the sound. The reed forms the sound and is instrumental in the player's control over the quality and tone of every note.
The best material for mouthpiece reeds is Karabakh cane.
To make the proper reed – which takes from 8 to 12 days – the master maker has to have mental poise, stamina, and be very precise.
From a pack of reeds, the master carefully chooses - according to a certain set of standards - only the best and most comfortable ones.
The best material for mouthpiece reeds is Karabakh cane.
To make the proper reed – which takes from 8 to 12 days – the master maker has to have mental poise, stamina, and be very precise.
From a pack of reeds, the master carefully chooses - according to a certain set of standards - only the best and most comfortable ones.
The master's experience
The master maker has to be not only a good carpenter or wood-craftsman.
He also has to be the musician himself with a proper training – he has to play the instrument well and know all the technical nuances and difficulties of playing the duduk.
The master Alexduduk has all of the above.
He also has to be the musician himself with a proper training – he has to play the instrument well and know all the technical nuances and difficulties of playing the duduk.
The master Alexduduk has all of the above.
The making of duduk
Complicated and lengthy process.
When the wooden bar of apricot tree gets to the workshop studio, one has to shape it into a required form.
The properly maintained sizes and proportions (and there are different sets of them according to the different tonalities of instruments), the master maker's experience, his knowledge of all the acoustic peculiarities of a given wood – all these are the basis for the good instrument-in-making.
The properly maintained sizes and proportions (and there are different sets of them according to the different tonalities of instruments), the master maker's experience, his knowledge of all the acoustic peculiarities of a given wood – all these are the basis for the good instrument-in-making.
The toning of duduk
Duduk is toned without any chemical dyers, only the natural ones are used.
The rules and tradition of toning have not been changed throughout thousands of years.
The secrets of that process are passed on from master to disciple, from father to son.
The rules and tradition of toning have not been changed throughout thousands of years.
The secrets of that process are passed on from master to disciple, from father to son.
The reliable duduk
Duduks of the master Alexduduk are tested for their strength and durability.
That test is done only one time, at a specific moment.
If during the test the duduk has not been cracked, it means that it will serve a long time and will not let down the one who plays it.
That test is done only one time, at a specific moment.
If during the test the duduk has not been cracked, it means that it will serve a long time and will not let down the one who plays it.
The tuning of duduk
The most demanding and painstaking moment.
The ear for music and the experience of playing the duduk are crucial here.
Master Alexduduk has not only been playing the duduk for many years, he also received a professional musical education and training.
He has high demands and standards regarding the quality of instruments' tuning.
The ear for music and the experience of playing the duduk are crucial here.
Master Alexduduk has not only been playing the duduk for many years, he also received a professional musical education and training.
He has high demands and standards regarding the quality of instruments' tuning.
Duduk's gallery
Here are the duduks made by master Alexduduk
To order the custom-making of duduk.
To get the master's advice and appraisal.
To get the master's advice and appraisal.
The restoration of duduk
Re-tuning of duduk
Having no knowledge of duduks, some people often purchase the souvenirs at, say, the market in Yerevan or at the international trade fairs. Even though those instruments might even be made from a quality material, yet the way they are tuned and sound can give a strange impression.
Yet that can be fixed.
Yet that can be fixed.
The restoration of old duduks
There are instruments that are more than one decade old.
By that time anything could have had happened to them – anything from cracks to the meddling by unskilled users who tried on their own to pick and poke into the wood of the instrument in order to "fix" it…
Much of that can still be fixed
By that time anything could have had happened to them – anything from cracks to the meddling by unskilled users who tried on their own to pick and poke into the wood of the instrument in order to "fix" it…
Much of that can still be fixed
Two octaves duduk
This duduk also needs maintenance
introduction
Reeds for duduk
A lot depends on the quality of custom-made reeds, first of all – the comfortable smooth production of sound and the precise tuning.
All materials are thoroughly chosen by the master maker.
The material is the purely natural reed grown in Karabakh region.
Even though reeds are similar in appearance, each one of them is unique.
Before they are being shipped to you, all reeds are tested and prepared.
Purely handmade work.
From all my heart to you.
All materials are thoroughly chosen by the master maker.
The material is the purely natural reed grown in Karabakh region.
Even though reeds are similar in appearance, each one of them is unique.
Before they are being shipped to you, all reeds are tested and prepared.
Purely handmade work.
From all my heart to you.
The manufacturing
of
mouthpiece reeds.
of
mouthpiece reeds.
It is time-consuming and complicated process.
The tone quality, the weight and tune of reed depends on the experience, care and attentiveness of master maker.
The process of mouthpiece reed production lasts about 12 days.
The tone quality, the weight and tune of reed depends on the experience, care and attentiveness of master maker.
The process of mouthpiece reed production lasts about 12 days.
The thermal treatment of reeds.
Cane as the material for mouthpiece reeds is delicate and brittle; in order to strengthen it, it is thermally treated.
It is not just a process of "roasting".
The thermal treatment leads, as well, to the reeds' tone quality and resilience.
It is not just a process of "roasting".
The thermal treatment leads, as well, to the reeds' tone quality and resilience.
Thread wrapping
One of the important processes in making the reeds. The general tune depends on the density and quality of thread wraps.
Photo of the reeds' production for duduk
Reeds for duduk
To order reeds for duduk
To get the master's advice and appraisal.
To get the master's advice and appraisal.
