This article is on the musical instrument; for information on other kinds of harmonia, see harmonium (disambiguation).
The harmonium is a small, manually-pumped reed organ.
There are two main types of harmonium: a foot-pumped version that resembles a small organ, and a hand-pumped portable version that folds up for easy transport. The foot-pumped version was common in the late 19th century, replacing the melodeon. It was used as a practice instrument by organists, most notably Franck, who composed several collections of works specifically for it, taking advantage of the expressive capacity of varying the bellows pressure using the feet. It was also common in the rural U.S., where it was a popular source of home entertainment. It was cheaper than a piano, the tuning was more stable, it was lighter, and it withstood the bumpy shipment by rail better. They were also used in many pioneer churches in the U.S., where the harmonium was used for accompaniment of congregational singing instead of an organ.
The more portable versions were used by the U.S. armed forces for religious services abord ship and in the field during World War II.
In western culture both types of harmonium have largely fallen out of use, having been replaced by the piano, the pipe organ, and electronic organs. Many harmoniums were shipped overseas to support missionary efforts, though they remain common (though disused) in both private and ecclesiastical ownership.
The harmonium was invented in Europe in Paris in 1842 by Alexandre Debain , though there was concurrent development of similar instruments.
During the mid-19th century missionaries brought hand-pumped harmonium to India, where it quickly became popular due to its portability and its low price. Its popularity has stayed intact to the present day, and the harmonium remains an important instrument in many genres of Indian music, as well as being commonly found in Indian homes.
In Indian music, the harmonium is considered to be one of the most versatile instruments. The harmonium is used in classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. It is usually used as an accompanying instrument for vocalists in classical music. However, some musicians have began playing the harmonium as a solo instrument. One of the largest pioneers of this style is Pandit Tulsidas Borkar of Mumbai. More and more music students are learning in this fashion.
Harmoniums consist of banks of reeds (metal bands which vibrate when air flows over them), a pumping apparatus, stops for drones, and the keyboard. The harmonium functions mostly like an accordion. In order to play the instrument, one must pump air into the instrument and press the desired keys. The sound of the harmonium is unique, and improves over time as the instrument ages.
The number of reed banks is up to the particular person. Some harmoniums use 1 reed, 2 reeds, and 3 reeds. This refers to the number of reed sets there are in the instrument. Classical instrumentalists usually use 1-reed harmonium, while a musician who plays for a qawaali (Islamic devotional singing) usually uses a 3-reed harmonium.
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Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
