Armenian duduk to sound in Germany on Genocide 99th anniversary

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: The duduk player Gevorg Dabaghyan will sound about the Armenian Genocide through music. The musician, ahead of the 99th anniversary of the Genocide, on April 20-30 will perform concerts in five German cities. Dabaghyan told the Armenpress correspondent that the proposals to take part in the concerts he got from the Germans. “Komitas and spiritual music will sound at the concerts with the accompaniment of the organ. The organ player is German”, - said the Honored Artist of Armenia. According to him, the proposal to perform in front of the Germans on the eve of April 24, the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, is not accidental, as many developed people live in Germany, who are aware of the Genocide fact. The duduk player thinks that the Armenian Genocide should be sounded through duduk and music in general.

In the future Gevorg Dabaghyan will have concerts in Venice, where he teaches 30 foreign students to play duduk, who register successes in the duduk performance skills.

Gevorg G. Dabaghyan is a famous Armenian duduk player and a lecturer of Yerevan State Conservatory. He was born in 1965 in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1984 he graduated from the Musical College after Romanos Melikian. He attended the classes of a beloved artist, Khachik Khachatryan. In 1989 he graduated from Yerevan State Conservatory, the faculty of Duduk.

In 1992 he received Master's Degree at Yerevan State Conservatory. The lecturer was Khachatur Avetisyan. In 1990 Gevorg Dabaghyan won the Grand Prix for the nomination of the Best Eastern National Instruments held in Dushanbe. In 1991-1992 he gained the principal prize for Sayat-Nova Nomination held in Yerevan.

In 1994 Gevorg Dabaghyan's CD was made by the American firm "CELESTRIAL HARMONIES". In 1995 the CD issued by the firm "CELESTIAL HARMONIES" was rewarded an "INDI" international prize.

In 2002 the composition for symphonic orchestra, choir and duduk by an Iranian composer Meget Entezami, was recorded especially for an Iranian movie "Miss Maria", devoted to Jesus Christ. Duduk player Gevorg Dabaghyan cooperates with world renowned musicians such as Yo - Yo Ma and Yan Garbarek. He was part of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project in 2005 and appears on the Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon, a 2005 album by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.

Gevorg Dabaghyan is one of the best contemporary duduk players. He is the first to present Armenian mediaeval spiritual music (Grigor Narekatsi, "Havoun-Havoun", 10th century) by duduk. Gevorg Dabaghyan continues the work of his predecessors like Levon Madoian, Margar Margarian, Vache Hovsepian, Khachik Khachatrian and other musicians, who left their unique heritage in the history of folk music.

Gevorg Dabaghyan's innovative style in music culture, his proficiency and ingenuity to use this instrument brings a special incantation to his art. The sound of duduk touches one's soul and heart, it is like a rainbow in the sky. Duduk in Gevorg Dabaghyan's hands becomes an autumn breeze, which is natural and, at the same time, sole with its freshness and brightness. The tune of duduk is like a voice coming from the mountains and rivers of Armenia. The harmony of this tune together with the history of Armenia, the combination of poetry image and musical phrase create a new style and sonorousness in Gevorg Dabaghyan's art.

Indeed, duduk, which is a musical instrument made of an apricot tree, has a distinctive power to present Armenia, its people and the pearls of this country to the audience. Gevorg Dabaghyan's inventiveness is eminent in some modern composers' works, where duduk's tune is often heard. He is able to match the play of duduk with different other musical instruments such as violin, cello, alt, trombone, bassoon, etc. It is important to mention the works of Armenian famous Sayat- Nova and other Armenian Gousans presented by Gevorg Dabaghyan, who plays not only duduk but also zourna, another Armenian musical instrument.

In 2001 Gevorg Dabaghyan participated in "The World's Multi-Voice" international music project in Moscow. The project had a common purpose, to unite the artistry of folk instrumentalists of different countries. At the end of the project Gevorg Dabaghyan played a duet with the famous violinist Gidon Kremer. This was not unusual; in fact, the duduk, which has 3000-4000 years of history, still continues to be heard as an instrument that makes sounds of love and beauty, kindness and joy.