Armenian duduk virtuoso Dijvan Gasparyan passes away

Throughout his life, Gasparyan released over 20 albums, recorded duduk for over one thousand songs and performed in approximately 20 thousand concerts. His death is called a great loss for the duduk art.

Armenian duduk virtuoso Dijvan Gasparyan has died in Erivan aged 92. The death of the worldwide- known artist was announced by his grandchild on Tuesday.

Gasparyan was born in Solag village in the Kodaky region of Armenia on 12 October 1928.

Gasparyan experienced a childhood full of challenges after his mother passed away and his father got involved in the Second World War. He therefore spent his childhood years in an orphanage.  

At the age of 6, Gasparyan met the duduk which he never quit alongside music throughout his life. In 1947, when he was in Moscow for a concert, Stalin presented him a “Pobeda” watch.

In 1956, Gasparyan received his first award and won the gold medal in the 4th International Festival of UNESCO.

In the same competition, he won the silver medal in 1962 and the bronze medal in 1973.

In 1973, also, Gasparyan was granted the title “Armenian People’s Artist”.

His international career began in 1988. He played duduk for the soundtracks of many well known movies, including “Gladiator”, “Syriana” and “The Blood Diamond”.

Also, Gasparyan, with the famous Turkish artist Erkan Oğur, recorded an album dubbed “Fuad” in Turkey, which included Armenian and Turkish folk songs.

Throughout his life, Gasparyan released over 20 albums, recorded duduk for over one thousand songs and performed in approximately 20 thousand concerts. He played, sang and composed countless pieces for love and peace in the world. His art inspired numerous artists all over the world.

The death of Gasparyan is called a great loss to duduk art by Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.