Pan Flute

About the Sound and Character

The sound of the pan flute is incredibly airy, “breathing,” and evocative of an eagle soaring over mountain peaks or pastoral nature. The sound carries substantial wind noise, and rapid glissandos across the tubes create an effect of light, fairy-tale laughter.

Structure and Features

It consists of a row (or two rows) of bamboo, reed, or wooden tubes of varying lengths bound together. The tubes are closed at the bottom. The musician blows across the open top rims of the tubes. The longer the tube, the lower the pitch.

Genres

• Andean indigenous folk music
• Romanian and Moldovan folklore music
• New Age (e.g., music by James Last or Enigma)