Sunken Treasure: awesome music from the achives. This week, Djivan Gasparyan

The duduk, a woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia, is a small, double reed flute carved from aged apricot wood. The rich tonal colour and sweetness of the sound it makes is no coincidence.

The ancient duduk’s mournful, oboe-like sound is due to the width of the reed, which require remarkable breathing techniques by the player.It is most commonly played with another duduk, where the soloist plays over the accompanying drone or foundation. This is what gives the sound its uniquely touching sonic atmosphere, with the scales changing harmoniously between both instruments.

It’s a captivating and free- flowing sound. There is an intimacy to it that invites contemplation. In its gentleness it resides close to silence and its whispering tones appear not to disturb quietness very much at all.

From the breath of the great Djivan Gasparyan, the duduk, once regarded as a poor person's instrument, has reached high places and western ears. In 1989 Gasparyan released an album on his own Opal label called I Will Not Be Sad in This World. A subsequent collaboration with the producer Michael Brook resulted in Moon Shines at Night.

This is Gasparyan’s masterpiece. Brook works his magic in the most subtle of ways, manufacturing a warm, acoustical setting in order to bring the sound even closer to the listener.

Gasparyan's playing is heartfelt and graceful. There's a tenderness in every note, phrase and song. The two tracks on which he sings, Mother of Mine and 7th of December 1988, are powerful and highly evocative. The similarity of his singing voice and his instrument is a mesmerising combination.

It renders tangible the most elusive of things: A quiet, peaceful dream.