The Dhunhorn - the Sound of Rhanukhan

Enjoying wide renown as the national musical instrument of Rhanukhan, the Rhanukhani Dhunhorn is a brass horn approximately 65 centimetres long with a wide conical bore, which produces a loud, haunting, buzzing, wailing note. A series of membrane-covered holes and the player’s own vocalisations are employed to produce pitch variation.

The Dhunhorn - beloved national musical instrument of Rhanukhan.

History
Simple membrane instruments played by vocalizing, such as the onion flute, have existed since at least the 10th century. It is claimed that one Alexander Vestibule, a resident of the region that is now Bhanadhun province, invented the Dhunhorn around 1240AU, although there is no documentation to support that claim. Nonetheless, the name has stuck and Bhanadhun proudly promotes itself as the birthplace of the iconic instrument to this day.

Playing
A Dhunhorn player hums, rather than blows, into the instrument. The oscillating air pressure of the hum makes the Dhunhorn's membranes vibrate. The resulting sound varies in pitch and loudness both with the player's humming and by opening and closing holes in the body of the instrument. Players can produce different sounds by singing specific syllables such as "doo", "too", "who", "rrrrr" or "brrr" into the Dhunhorn.

The Dhunhorn in Rhanukhani Culture
The present Rhanukhani national anthem, "The Rivers Flow with the Perspiration of Honest Toil", is set to the melody of Peter T. Chaise-Longue's "Triumphant Overture for 4-dozen Dhunhorns" (first performed in 1876AU). Although the piece can be played by a regular orchestra, and frequently is in international settings, tradition dictates that it has never been truly heard unless played by the designated instruments.

A record was set in 2020AU when the anthem was played on 2,304 (i.e. 48x48) Dhunhorns in the newly opened Prism International Stadium in Rhanukhan Kaglakh as part of a promotional stunt set up by leading figures in the Rhanukhani tourism industry.

Controversy
The Dhunhorn has been the subject of controversy over the years. Its high volume can lead to permanent hearing loss for unprotected ears after close-range exposure, with a sound level of 120dB (the threshold of pain) at one metre from the device opening.

In spite of the instrument’s great popularity and cultural significance in Rhanukhan, it is frequently described as unpleasant by outsiders.

OOC: If you're wondering, I like to imagine it sounding somewhat like this.