Lendari flute

Echoing through forests, mountains, and plains, the Lendari flute makes everyone vibrate with the nostalgic sound of its tune. The nomadic Lendari people are known for this instrument, which they craft using the antlers of the starry coatis they use as mounts and companions.

Characteristics

The Lendari people have lived in the company of starry coatis since Time Immemorial; when adult coatis shed their antlers every year, the Lendari pick them up to be reused for all sorts of things, including tools and decoration. But their most famous use is to craft the Lendari flute (also known as polyflute).
After letting the a pair of antlers dry up for a bit, they are hollowed out and tuned in relation to each other. Then, they are joined into a single piece; traditionally the mouthpiece was carved into the antler itself, although alternative construction methods allow using wood too. Lendari flutes generally have four separate pipes: two drones, and two chanters.
Modern-style chanters are tuned in alternating chromatic steps to be able to play a full scale, while the traditional way sacrifices this flexibility to duplicate the notes, which lets the musician play more harmonious chords. The two drones are usually tuned in a third or a fifth, and the lower drone is always the fundamental note.

The Lendari flute family

There are coatis of many different sizes, which means their antlers come in many different sizes too. Lendari flutes are generally classified into four groups, from smallest to largerst: whistles, mediums, basses, and deeps. As with all instruments, the smaller it is, the higher its pitch will be.
The Lendari flute is traditionally a solo instrument, seeing small ensambles of Lendari flutes of various sizes isn't rare at all. In fact, some modern Lendari flutes include a small lever that closes the drone pipes in order to make group play a more pleasant experience.

Technique

The hardest part of mastering the Lendari flute is breathing. Since the Lendari flute is essentially four flutes in one, much more air is required to play all four pipes together. While it's not a requirement to play it, mastering the technique of circular breathing is important in order to be able to inhale while also blowing into the instrument.
However, since each pipe has its own individual windway entrance, the flutist can change the position of their mouth to blow into some of the pipes only. This gives a very precise control over which tones play, and can also help conserve air.

Cultural significance

The Lendari flute is a core pillar of many Lendari clans. Creafting a Lendari flute is a coming-of-age ritual for many of them, and it's said that playing this instrument can turn docile the most dangerous predator. Throughout the years, the various Lendari clans have developed their own individual cultures and traditions, but the Lendari flute has stayed as something that connects them all.