Panpipes

Panpipes consist of a set of tubes (usually seven), graduated in size and blown from the top. They were called syrinx by the ancient Greeks, after the nymph beloved of Pan. Built of various materials, the tubes are often made to look like reeds. Their best known use is in Mozart's opera. The Magic Flute, and they occasionally are used as a toy. More complex forms of the pipes are found in China, Romania, South America, and Southeast Asia, where they are widely used.

Panpipes, a series of graduated pipes bound together, have been made of such diverse materials as stone and plastic, with wooden pipes such as these perhaps the most common. Originating in China, they are popular throughout the world. Panpipes are played in a vertical position.