I would like to invite comments and contributions on this remarkable Armenian double reed instrument. In particular, I would like to know if you know of any uses of it in fusion, jazz or genres other than Armenian folk music. Here an example of its hauntingly beautiful sound:
I love the sound of the duduk. So much so that I bought one a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I don't make a hauntingly beautiful sound on it. It's of course down to the fact that I've never had a lesson (and wouldn't know where to start looking for one), and also I suspect that neither of the reeds I got for it are that good either. Good playing technique demands that you puff out your cheeks, so it goes somewhat against the grain of everything we've been taught.
It's a rather limited instrument though, compared to modern western woodwinds - with a very narrow range of about an octave, as I recall. A serious duduk player will have several of them pitched in different keys, The "standard" duduk is in A.
But it is a very beautiful instrument nonetheless.