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DATE=8/30/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=DUDUK MASTER
NUMBER=5-44167
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: One of the masters of an Armenian wind
instrument called the "duduk" (doo-'dook) is taking
his music to a wider audience. Djivan Gasparyan (jee-
'vahn gah-spahr-ee-'ahn) records melodies for movie
sound tracks. As Mike O'Sullivan reports, he also
collaborates with a Western jazz artist to extend the
range of the traditional instrument.
TEXT: The duduk produces a haunting, romantic sound,
like this from the tune "Eshkhemet" from Djivan
Gasparyan's album called "Duduk."
/// MUSIC ACT -- establish and fade ///
The Armenian wind instrument can also produce lively
dance music for celebrations.
/// MUSIC ACT -- establish and fade ///
The duduk is a double-reed instrument that looks like
an ancient oboe. It is native to Armenia, made of
wood from the region's famous apricot trees.
Duduk master Djivan Gasparyan lives in the city of
Yerevan, where he teaches at the Yerevan Conservatory.
At 70, he is widely regarded as one the country's
leading players.
He has also emerged as an international musician,
recording background music for 18 films, including
"Russia House," "The Crow," "The Siege," and "Dead Men
Walking."
Two years ago, Djivan Gasparyan became known to jazz
fans through his collaborative album with Canadian
jazz guitarist Michael Brook. Their album is called
"Black Rock," and they have performed numerous joint
concerts in North America and Europe.
Djivan Gasparyan says he is expanding the instrument's
range.
/// MUSIC AND GASPARYAN ACT (Armenian with translation
///
It's duduk in its own new variation, rather than the
old accepted, heard, loved and cherished duduk as a
folk instrument.
/// END ACT -- fade music under narration ///
Los Angeles music producer Dickran Bezirgenian (dik-
'ran bez-ir-gen-ee-'ahn) -- who is also Djivan
Gasparyan's U-S manager -- believes the duduk appeals
to audiences outside Armenia because of its
simplicity. It recalls the instrument's origin
thousands of years ago as a means of entertainment for
shepherds.
/// BEZIRGENIAN ACT ///
I think it is the yearning of going back to the
good old days. With all this technology and
electronic involvement in instrumentation, this
is like a message from the old world, that
things are fine. And it's kind of like a
yearning back to nature, because duduk is a wind
instrument coming from nature. The world in
general is mesmerized because it's a beautiful
instrument.
/// END ACT ///
Musician Djivan Gasparyan says the duduk is becoming
more popular with young people in Armenia, while it
adapts to its new role as an instrument of world
music. (Again, he speaks through his manager, Dickran
Bezirgenian.)
/// GASPARYAN ACT -- Armenian with
translation -- ends with music ///
Not only does he (Gasparyan) have solo
performances on a daily basis. He has a duet,
quartet, sextet, and almost 40 or 50 piece duduk
ensemble choir. And he has actually improvised
from the dukuk -- bass, alto, tenor, and soprano
instruments, (creating) his own instruments and
improvisations.
/// END ACT -- run music under out-tro and
signoff ///
The large ensemble groups have not yet been recorded,
but duduk master Djivan Gasparyan says they will be
one day.
His traditional music is available on a number of C-
Ds. His joint album with Michael Brook, called "Black
Rock," is on Real World Records. (Signed)
/// OPT -- Raise Music ///
NEB/PT
30-Aug-1999 18:42 PM LOC (30-Aug-1999 2242 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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[.jamesrp@statenet.com.]