Introduction
Some Duduks, like many other wind instruments, are made in multiple assembled parts for various reasons. These features offer significant advantages, which are explored below.
Ease of Storage
When instruments are long due to their design, such as bass duduks or duduks in G (Sol) and F (Fa), they are often made to be dismantled into several parts. This modularity allows them to be stored in standardized cases, making transport easier.
For instance, a duduk in G (Sol) typically measures around 41 cm, while the more common duduks, such as those in A (La), are about 35 cm long. Most cases are designed to accommodate instruments of 35 cm, with enough width for multiple duduks. By designing a G (Sol) duduk in two parts, it can fit into a 35 cm case, with the second part placed in another available compartment.
Acoustic Adjustments
The assembly of wind instruments enables fine adjustments to modify intonation and resonance. This feature is particularly useful for instruments without adjustable reeds, like the blul and shvi.
For example, when the shvi or blul sounds slightly sharp due to temperature variations between rooms, loosening the assembly to lengthen the instrument lowers the overall pitch. This technique is commonly used with instruments like the flute and clarinet, and the same principle applies to adjustable duduks, which feature a corked mouthpiece that can be adjusted to achieve proper tuning balance.
Ease of Crafting
For artisans, designing long instruments such as bass duduks in multiple parts is often more practical. Finding high-quality wood becomes increasingly challenging as the required piece length increases. Creating modular instruments allows for optimal use of precious wood while ensuring superior structural stability and sound quality.
The Special Case of the Duduk in F (Fa)
The duduk in F (Fa) can be designed in two different ways. The first option is to craft it at a length of 41 cm, similar to the duduk in G (Sol), making it compact and compatible with standard cases. However, this size introduces a specific limitation: the last note (G) played by covering the back hole of the instrument with the belly cannot be drilled due to insufficient length.
While the absence of this note might seem problematic, professional musicians rarely use it, especially on a duduk in F (Fa), where the back hole is challenging to reach. To address this limitation, another version of the duduk in F (Fa) has been developed, measuring about 44 cm and allowing the G note to be played with the belly.
This model is also often split into two parts to facilitate transport and assembly during use.
