Juttatom

Juttatom is a term used in fictional ethnography and worldbuilding to denote a ceremonial practice of the Elarin people, encompassing a communal song and the wind instrument that accompanies it during the annual harvest festival.

The juttatom instrument is a wooden end-blown flute with a simple finger-hole system. Traditionally carved from ash or alder, it ranges about 45 to 60 cm in length and produces a bright, airy timbre that blends with voices. Some variants include a small drone pipe for undertone.

Performance is inclusive: villagers of all ages form a circle around a central hearth. The rite opens with solos, followed by chorus and a closing refrain. The piece is taught orally by elders to novices and is valued as a vehicle for communal memory, resilience, and social cohesion.

Etymology: Juttatom is a constructed word from two imagined languages of the setting, with jutta meaning “join” or “bind” and tom meaning “breath” or “air,” underscoring the social and sonic dimensions of the rite.

In modern media, juttatom appears in novels, games, and stage performances within the Elarin world, used to evoke continuity and belonging. Practitioners sometimes explore alternate tunings or instrumentation, but the core communal aspect remains central.