leluun

Leluun is a traditional wind instrument and the associated musical practice of the fictional culture of Aeloria. The instrument is typically constructed from bamboo or reed, about 40 to 60 centimeters long, with four to six finger holes and a simple mouthpiece. It is played by blowing across an end or edge and covering holes to produce melodies, resulting in a bright, airy timbre that blends with vocals and percussion in ceremonial settings.

The name leluun is said to derive from the Aelorian words le- meaning breath and luun meaning valley, conveying the idea of breath echoing through a landscape. Regional variants exist, with some communities using slightly longer or shorter tubes and differing numbers of finger holes, which yields subtle shifts in scale and timbre.

Historically, leluun appears in the earliest Aelorian court and village archives from around the 12th century, though informal practice likely predates written records. It gained wider attention through ethnographic work in the 19th and 20th centuries, and has seen a modern revival in concert and educational settings.

In contemporary use, leluun functions as both functional music in processions and rites and as a symbol of cultural identity. It is frequently taught in local schools and performed by community ensembles, sometimes in modern arrangements that incorporate other traditional or contemporary instruments.

See also: traditional wind instruments, ethnomusicology, Aelorian folklore.