Levon Minasyan is Armenian but lives in France. He says: “I have been traveling in the world very long and taking lessons from Duduk players. This is how I learned how to play the duduk”.
Though Levon Minasyan plays also mandolin and piano, but he says that his favorite instrument is Duduk. Three years ago he accepted the invitation of Jivan Gasparyan, came to Armenia and threw a concert in Gyumri city. He doesn’t come to Armenia often, because he is very busy. His last visit to Armenia coincided with the visit of famous photographer from France Yan-Artus Bertran. He made a film, where his pictures are shown together with the music of Levon Misnasyan and Armenian songs of his sister Varduhi Minasyan. Levon Minasyan has been granted with a title of “chivalry”. His music is played in a lot of famous films. He has made a concert with “Sting” and also recorded his music in the last album of “Sting”. As well as Mel Gibson has invited him to play for his famous film called “The last temptation of Jesus”. He has played Duduk for a lot of films, one of the most famous film for us is “Mother”.
Levon Minasyan says: “It seems to me that our Duduk has become the first musical instrument in the world. Our Duduk is very special, everyone likes this music. Everyone is agitated when listening to this music. Even I get nervous when I play”. It is already 35 years that he spends his days playing Duduk, he plays all day long. A lot of famous singers like Charles Aznavour, Elen Tsigara, Sting, Oatrick Fiori and other singers have asked him to play for their songs. “I don’t want to play like the Duduk of Yerevan, I want to open new windows for Duduk. Duduk is an instrument that God gave to our nation”, -says Levon Minasyan. He remembers his first meeting with Charles Aznavour: “Aznavour came to our studio and said: “Don’t tell Levon that I am here, I don’t want to disturb him, I just want to listen to him playing. If I like his music I will tell him to play for my new album”. The next day he met me and said: “By listening to your music I lived a whole life””.
Besides playing Armenian music he also plays in philharmonic genre and also makes jazz improvisation. “Duduk is very universal. We don’t need to play only “Dle-yaman” or “Horovel”, we can make pretty good improvisations”, -says L. Minasyan. He also takes part in Jazz festivals, because he is sure that all doors are open for Duduk. He also works at a school in France and teaches children to play different Armenian musical instruments. He thinks that everyone can’t play Duduk: “You must have this instrument inside yourself, if you play Duduk like saxophone, you’d better not play”. Duduk shows the way to harmony and kindness, even if it sounds sad it is very wonderful. Levon Minasyan thinks that Duduk players must be kind and not let themselves lose their heads as soon as they gain fame: “People must always stay “human” if they play Duduk. When people listen to Duduk they not only like the instrument and the music, but also, the person that plays it. I used to do the same what I do now 40 years ago”. He is a kind person. For him the symbol of Armenia and the Armenian Duduk is Jivan Gasparyan, because he plays it best: “We must play the best way in the world, we must teach everyone and our children. And I want to make the entire world like our Duduk”, -says Levon Minasyan.