Flute Notes Novels & Stories

Ingrid I put the long lute—laz—down reluctantly. I’d love to spend the rest of the night getting to know the slightly off cadences of its new shape. “Which ones? Maybe we could play together sometime.” “The laz, for one.” He points at the top of another pile, where a flat string instrument like the inside of a piano sits. “The naqun.” He reaches into the pile behind him and unearths a beautifully carved wooden flute. “The vey.”

"Not something fun for sure!" The young man pulled out a Pixie flute, took a deeper breath so he could play the notes longer. Suddenly a swarm of insects shone around Wiggy's head, there were so many of them, the light they produced was even brighter than the flames of torches. When the Pixies let out a buzzing sound, Wiggy immediately put his index finger against his lips — telling them to shut up.

The same mess I was trying to not become. Stop. Stop. Stop! Please! In the middle of my ugly sniffles and muffled sobs behind my tightly pressed hands on my mouth, a subtle soulful melody drifted in. Flute? Someone was playing a flute. Holding the railings, I got up from the floor. The soft feathery tune didn’t entirely lift the weights off my chest, just tore it into bearable pieces that weren’t as overwhelming as they were a few seconds ago. The tune was melancholic, yet full of positive energy. It felt like being hugged by God after being abandoned by the entire world.

I put my finger to my lips in a shhh. The first note was a long lone flute note. It undulated down into a fast melody. Drums pounded a beat. I danced, a proud peacock showing off his feathers. My arms were out, my feet moving quickly in a staccato rhythm, my spins worked with the melody. I hated that I had no jingles to emphasize my footwork. The howls when they came were part of the music. Up and down, the howls intertwined with the flute. The singer's voice was mine, then and now as my howl mixed with the strobing colored lights.

The wedding procession entered the temple veranda, accompanied by music from ryuteki, hocchiku, and nohkan. Though their names differ, all these instruments are flutes, varying only in shape and material. Naturally, the tones and sounds they produce are also different. Akiko might have enjoyed it if she weren’t concentrating so hard on not falling. The weight of the kimono she was wearing had started to make her uncomfortable, and Akiko was terrified she might cause a scene by stumbling.