Born in Marseille to an Armenian family, Levon Minassian was discovered by Peter Gabriel to play on the Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack, later touring internationally with Gabriel in support of Us (1992) and appearing on Secret World Live. His solo albums include The Doudouk Beyond Borders (1998) and Sources (2016), and he has recorded with Sting, Afro Celt Sound System, and Tony Levin.

Mood and energy: Warm, cinematic, cross-cultural. Recommended uses: reflection, meditation.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 4 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: A French-Armenian diaspora voice whose extensive film and popular-music collaborations have carried the duduk’s sound to a broader global audience than almost any other player.