Handcrafted Armenian musical instruments by Arthur H. Grigoryan
Lower-pitched variant with deep, resonant sound. Ideal for ensemble performances and recordings.
Traditional duduk enhanced with 2 precision valves for smoother fingering and more complex passages.
Premium concert-grade instrument with unparalleled resonance. Preferred by master musicians worldwide.
A duduk with valves is an advanced version of the traditional Armenian duduk, equipped with one or more metal key mechanisms — similar to those found on classical woodwind instruments like the clarinet or oboe. First of all, valves expand the range of the duduk. These valves are precision-fitted to the body of the instrument without altering the authentic apricot wood construction or the signature soulful tone the duduk is known for.
The valves allow the player to cover tone holes that would otherwise require an awkward hand position or be physically difficult to reach, particularly on larger instruments such as the bass duduk. This makes complex passages cleaner, faster, and more comfortable to execute — especially during extended performances or studio recordings.
These instruments are crafted by Arthur Grigoryan using the same aged apricot wood and traditional techniques as his standard models. The valve mechanism is added with careful attention to intonation, ensuring the instrument remains perfectly in tune across all registers.
Valves enable faster fingering and cleaner transitions — ideal for technically demanding pieces and ensemble work.
On larger duduks, valves solve the physical challenge of reaching wide-spaced tone holes comfortably.
The valve mechanism does not change the tone. The instrument still produces the deep, soulful sound of a traditional duduk. But they expand the range of the duduk.
Preferred by recording artists and orchestral players who need precision and consistency in every performance.