iDuduk™
It is believed that no other musical instrument is able to convey the emotions of the Armenian people so honestly and eloquently as the Duduk, for it is purely Armenian, born in the early eons of Armenian history. Because of its evocative and colorful timbre and warm sound, the Duduk has become part of everyday life in Armenia. Today, no festive occasion, wedding reception or family feast
is complete without a Dudukist. A form of oboe hand-made almost always of apricot wood, the Duduk is strictly Armenian. Traveling Armenians have taken it to Persia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the Middle East, and as far as the Balkans, where derivatives are played. The instrument itself is simply a hollow pipe with eight finger holes on the upper side and one thumbhole on the bottom. It has a warm, soft, slightly nasal timbre, but it is capable of wide-range melodies and drone notes sustained for long periods of time. It is invariably played with the accompaniment of a second ‘Dum Duduk,’ which gives the music an energy and tonic atmosphere, changing the scale harmoniously with the principal Duduk. The iDuduk™ LT also features the Drone option within the Duet Mode. The Duduk requires a specific type of double reed, categorized as a split or slit-tube reed. As a musical instrument it has not changed through the centuries, but the manner of playing it has been perfected and its sound has been improved. Its range is only one octave; however, it requires considerable skill to play, its dynamics controlled by constantly adjusting the lips and fingers. The tuning is basically untempered and diatonic, though chromatic notes may be obtained by partially covering the finger holes. The iDuduk™ LT version does not support the chromatic note option because the iPhone being an electronic device has its limitations, therefore we have only included the C major scale starting from low middle C going up to high D in the second octave which will also make the application more consumer friendly.
