Flutes

Flutes come in many different shapes and sizes. Usually made from hardwood, bone or, in some cases even clay or metal, a flute is relatively easy to make with just a few tools. Anyone can learn to play a melody on a flute without the need for a particularly specialized skillset, making it accessible to everybody from poor commoner to nobleman.

Shepherds all throughout Leanor play simple flutes both to lead their herds and to pass the time while keeping watch over the animals. Entertainment groups who are in charge of music, theatre and other amusements commonly have at least one person who specializes in all sorts of flutes. They are found wherever and whenever there is a celebration, especially when said celebration involves dancing, which is almost always the case.

But flutes are not only used for peaceful entertainment. Small, high-pitched pipes that are held transversely are often used in combination with drums in a military context, often in order to dictate and maintain the marching rhythm or to give signals that will be heard over some distance.

The only context in which flutes are rarely found is in religious ceremonies in the temples of the Faith of the Seven. They are not seen as sacred enough for use inside a temple, which also goes for other instruments with the exception of the occasional, sparingly, if at all, used harp or lyre accompanying the human voice when reciting sacred texts in a half spoken, half sung way. However, outside the temple, flutes are found in religious celebrations too.

The flute is a true jack of all trades amongst musical instruments. There are small, high flutes, and large, low ones, and everything in between. A whole chorus of flutes might well consist of up to ten diffently sized and correspondingly, but differently tuned instruments. Anything from simple melodies to complex compositions can be played using flutes exclusively.

For some, it is pure necessity to play a flute, be it in a civic or a military context, while for others it is a way of passing the time, making their money or entertaining others at festivities.

For the nobility, playing the flute is a less common pastime, as it is often seen as too folksy. Nobles will often opt for more sophisticated string instruments.

They mainly do this to differentiate themselves from commoners and to project their status and superiority. However, flutes are always played during banquets and dances at court as well as amongst the commoners.

Flutes are found in the mythologies of many different cultures throughout Leanor. Their sound is often considered a representation of the human voice and closely associated with breath and the air itself.