stisnalar

Stisnalar are a family of traditional wind instruments developed in the fictional region of Lirath. They are portable, reed-driven instruments with a modular bore that enables variation in pitch and timbre. Construction typically uses brass, hardwood, or bamboo. The instrument comprises a mouthpiece, a central bore, and detachable side pipes that can extend the range and provide drone tones. A single reed or lip-vented mouthpiece produces a bright, penetrating tone.

Playing technique and repertoire: Players blow into the mouthpiece and cover successive finger holes to produce melody; adding or removing side pipes changes the fundamental pitch and harmonic content. Microtonal inflections are achieved by half-holing or adjusting breath pressure. In performance, stisnalar appear in folk ensembles, ceremonial music, and contemporary compositions, often paired with strings and percussion.

History and variants: Earliest written references date to the 9th century in Lirathian chronicles, but oral tradition suggests older origins. Regional variants differ in bore size, number of side pipes, and drone configurations. Common variants include the stisnal, a mid-range model, and the bass stisnal, which supplies a sustained drone or low octave.

Etymology: The name derives from the Stisnari language, where stis means breath and nal ar means instrument. The term has broadened to cover related reed-driven instruments in neighboring regions.

See also: wind instruments, traditional ensembles, musical instrument construction.