In Burkina Faso, west Africa, the Mossi play flutes to accompany the music of balafons and the rapid beat of drums during ceremonies and mask perfom- ances. They are played in groups of 5 to 7 or more men. Each flute is played in a set of notes with a complex but very repetitive tune. Because the languages in this area are tonal, flutes can imitate the tonal patterns of spoken phrases, as well those in songs