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[Home]Pan pipes

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Musical instrument. A series of hollow pipes, closed at one end, differing in length, are connected to each other. Using one's mouth to blow air over the top of each pipe, a tone is produced. The pitch? of the tone changes, depending on the length and width of each pipe.

One of the famous legends of Pan involves the origin of his trademark pan pipes. There was a certain nymph? by the name of Syrinx, who was much beloved by the satyrs and spirits of the wood; but she would have none of them. One day, as she was returning from the hunt, Pan met her. She ran away without stopping to hear his compliments, and he pursued till she came to the bank of the river where he overtook her. She had only time to call for help on her friends, the water nymphs. They heard and consented. Pan threw his arms around what he supposed to be the form of the nymph, and found that she had been transformed into a stand of reeds. As he breathed a sigh the air sounded through the reeds and produced a plaintive melody. The god, charmed with the novelty and with the sweetness of the music, said "Thus, then, at least, you shall be mine." And he took some of the reeds to make an instrument which he called Syrinx, in honor of the nymph. (From the Wikipedia reference to Pan)

Also known as Panflute.


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Last edited November 1, 2001 4:29 am by 129.128.164.xxx (diff)
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