How the larchemi makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the larchemi belongs to the flutes (edge-blown): an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating – flutes, recorders, whistles and panpipes.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The larchemi (Georgian: ლარჭემი), or soinari (Georgian: სოინარი), is an ancient Georgian musical instrument of the panpipe family. It is known as "larchemi" in Samegrelo and "soinari" in Guria, but there is no difference in the instrument; those in Guria may be smaller. The larchemi was in the past found also in Abkhazia, Imereti and Lazeti (where it was called ostvinoni). By 1958, when it was studied by Kakhi Rosebashvili, it had largely disappeared.
The larchemi consists of a row of six reed pipes. Two bass pipes in the middle are tuned a second apart; the other pipes are tuned in thirds from them. The instrument can be played by two performers, who take three pipes each.
Other flutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a larchemi sound like?
As one of the flutes, its sound comes from the way an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating.
What type of instrument is the larchemi?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.112).