Pan pipes, also known as the pan flute or syrinx, are a musical instrument consisting of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length. The instrument is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing the pan pipes. In Greek mythology, Pan fell in love with a forest nymph called Syrinx, who was transformed into a water-reed to escape his affections. Pan then cut and bound several reeds together to make a melodic instrument, which he named after his beloved.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name of instrument | Pan flute, pan pipes, syrinx |
Origin | Ancient Greece |
Named after | Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds |
Construction | Multiple pipes of gradually increasing length and occasionally girth |
Materials | Bamboo, giant cane, local reeds, wood, plastic, metal, clay |
Principle | Closed tube |
Played by | Blowing horizontally across an open end against the sharp inner edge of the pipes |
What You'll Learn
- The pan flute is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds
- The instrument is made from bamboo, cane, reeds, wood, plastic, metal, or clay
- Pan pipes are based on the principle of the closed tube
- The length of the tube determines the fundamental frequency
- Pan pipes are widely associated with the character Peter Pan
The pan flute is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds
The pan flute, also known as panpipes or syrinx, is an ancient musical instrument. It is based on the principle of the closed tube, with multiple pipes of gradually increasing length. The instrument is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing the pan flute in art.
In Greek mythology, Pan is a creature that is half-goat and half-man. The story goes that Pan fell in love with a forest nymph named Syrinx. In her attempt to escape his affections, Syrinx was transformed into a water-reed or calamos (cane-reed). Pan then cut several reeds, placed them in parallel next to each other, and bound them together to create a melodic musical instrument. The Greeks called this instrument the Syrinx, in honour of the Muse, and Pandean, or Pan-pipes and Pan-flute, after Pan.
The pan flute has become widely associated with the character Peter Pan, created by Sir James Matthew Barrie, whose name was inspired by the god Pan.
The pan flute has been adopted by many cultures and is played in many parts of the world today.
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The instrument is made from bamboo, cane, reeds, wood, plastic, metal, or clay
The pan flute, also known as pan pipes, is an ancient musical instrument. It is based on the principle of the closed tube, with multiple pipes of gradually increasing length. The pipes are typically made from bamboo, giant cane, or local reeds, but can also be crafted from wood, plastic, metal, or clay.
The pan flute is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing the instrument. In Greek mythology, Pan cut several reeds, bound them together, and made a melodic instrument. The ancient Greeks called this instrument the Syrinx, in honour of the Muse, but also the Pandean, or Pan-pipes and Pan-flute, after Pan himself.
The pan flute is an end-blown flute, with sound produced by the player blowing horizontally across an open hole at the end of a resonating tube. The length of the tube determines the pitch, with longer tubes producing lower frequencies.
Today, pan flutes are still crafted from bamboo, cane, and reeds, but also from other materials such as wood, plastic, metal, and clay. The choice of material will depend on the style of the pan flute, the region in which it is being made, and the availability of resources.
For example, in South America, pan flutes are often made from bamboo, cane, or reeds, while in Romania, they are crafted from wood. In modern times, some makers have begun to use computer-aided design and 3D printing to create pan flutes from plastic. This allows for more intricate designs and the ability to move past some of the limitations of traditional tools and materials.
The variety of materials used to make pan flutes showcases the versatility and adaptability of this ancient instrument, which has been popular for thousands of years and continues to be widely played today.
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Pan pipes are based on the principle of the closed tube
Pan pipes, also known as a pan flute, are an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube. The instrument consists of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length (and sometimes girth). The pipes are typically made from bamboo, giant cane, or local reeds, but can also be made from wood, plastic, metal, or clay.
The pan flute is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing the instrument in Greek mythology. According to the myth, Pan fell in love with a forest nymph named Syrinx. As Syrinx attempted to escape his affections, she was transformed into a water-reed or calamos (cane-reed). Pan then cut several reeds, placed them in parallel next to each other, and bound them together to create a melodic musical instrument.
The pan flute's tubes are stopped at one end, which reflects the standing wave and produces a note an octave lower than that of an open pipe of equal length. The length of the tube determines the fundamental frequency, with longer tubes producing lower-pitched sounds and shorter tubes producing higher-pitched sounds.
The sound is produced by blowing horizontally across an open end of the pipe against the sharp inner edge, setting the air inside the pipe into motion and creating a vibration. By adjusting the pressure of breath and tension of the lips, different notes can be played.
The pan flute has become widely associated with the character Peter Pan, whose name was inspired by the Greek god Pan.
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The length of the tube determines the fundamental frequency
The pan flute, also known as pan pipes, is a musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube. It is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing this instrument.
The pan flute is an end-blown flute. The player blows horizontally across an open end against the sharp inner edge of the pipes, and the sound is produced by the vibration of an air stream. Each pipe is tuned to a keynote, known as the fundamental frequency.
The fundamental principle for pan flutes states that frequency and tube length are inversely proportional. So, as the pitch increases by one octave, the frequency doubles. This relationship allows for the calculation of the length of any pipe, given the length of one pipe.
The formula for calculating the length of a pan flute pipe is:
L = (c / f) / 4
Where L is the length, c is the speed of sound (343 m/s), and f is the desired frequency in hertz.
To correct flat pitch, the length of the tube must be slightly shorter than the calculated value. This extra length is useful for makers, who can use corks, rubber stoppers, or wax to adjust the pitch.
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Pan pipes are widely associated with the character Peter Pan
Pan pipes, also known as a pan flute, are an ancient musical instrument. The instrument is based on the principle of the closed tube, with multiple pipes of gradually increasing length. The pipes are typically made from bamboo, giant cane, or local reeds, but can also be made from wood, plastic, metal, and clay.
The instrument is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted with such an instrument. In Greek mythology, Syrinx, a forest nymph, was attempting to escape the affection of Pan, who was half-goat and half-man. She was transformed into a water-reed, and Pan cut several reeds, bound them together, and made a melodic instrument.
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Frequently asked questions
Pan pipes (also known as a pan flute or syrinx) are an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube. They consist of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length and are usually made from bamboo, giant cane, or local reeds, though other materials can include wood, plastic, metal, and clay.
The pan flute is named after Pan, the Greek god of nature and shepherds, who is often depicted playing the instrument in Greek mythology.
The pan flute is an end-blown flute. Sound is produced by blowing horizontally across an open end of the pipes, causing the air inside to vibrate. The length of the pipe determines the pitch of the note produced.