Harmonium

A harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ. It consists of free reeds and sound is produced by air being blown through reeds resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion. The air is supplied by foot-operated (or, as with the type of harmonium used in Indian music, hand-operated) bellows alternately depressed by the player.

Definition

The British introduced harmoniums to India during the colonial period. In North America, the most common pedal-pumped free reed keyboard instrument is known as the "American Reed Organ", (or "parlor organ", "pump organ", "cabinet organ", "cottage organ", etc.) and along with the earlier "melodeon", is operated by a suction bellows where air is sucked through the reeds to produce the sound. A "reed organ" with a pressure bellows, that pushes the air through the reeds, is referred to as a "harmonium".

In much of Europe, the term "harmonium" is used to describe all pedal pumped keyboard free reed instruments, making no distinction whether it has a pressure or suction bellows.

History

The harmonium was invented in Paris in 1842 by Alexandre Debain, though there was concurrent development of similar instruments. Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein (1723-1795), Professor of Physiology at Copenhagen, was credited with the first free reed to be made in the western world after winning the annual prize in 1780 from the Imperial Academy of St.Petersburg. [http://www.patmissin.com/history/western.html]

Harmoniums reached the height of their popularity in the West in the late 19th- and early-20th centuries. They were especially popular in small churches and chapels where a pipe organ would be too large or too expensive. Harmoniums generally weigh less than similarly-sized pianos and are not as easily damaged in transport, thus they were also popular throughout the colonies of the European powers in this period- not only because it was easier to ship the instrument out to where it was needed, but it was also easier to transport overland in areas where good-quality roads and railways may have been non-existent. An added attraction of the harmonium in tropical regions was that the instrument held its tune regardless of heat and humidity, unlike the piano. This 'export' market was sufficiently lucrative for manufacturers to produce harmoniums with cases impregnated with chemicals to prevent woodworm and other damaging organisms found in the tropics.

At the peak of the instruments' popularity around 1900, a wide variety of styles of harmoniums were being produced. These ranged from simple models with plain cases and only 4 or 5 stops (if any at all), up to large instruments with ornate cases, up to a dozen stops and other mechanisms such as couplers. Expensive harmoniums were often built to resemble pipe organs, with ranks of fake pipes attached to the top of the instrument. Small numbers of harmoniums were built with two manuals (keyboards). Some were even built with pedal keyboards, which required the use of an assistant to run the bellows or, for some of the later models, an electrical pump. These larger instruments were mainly intended for home use, such as allowing organists to practise on an instrument on the scale of a pipe organ, but without the physical size or volume of such an instrument. For missionaries, chaplains in the armed forces, travelling evangelists, and the like, reed organs that folded up into a container the size of a very large suitcase or small trunk were made; these had a short keyboard and few stops, but they were more than adequate for keeping hymn-singers more-or-less on pitch.

The invention of the electronic organ in the mid-1930s spelt the end of the harmonium's success (although its popularity as a household instrument declined in the 1920s as musical tastes changed). The Hammond organ could imitate the tonal quality and range of a pipe organ whilst retaining the compact dimensions and cost-effectiveness of the harmonium whilst reducing maintenance needs and allowing a greater number of stops and other features. By this time harmoniums had reached high levels of mechanical complexity- not only through the need to provide instruments with a greater tonal range, but (especially in North America) due to patent laws. It was common for manufacturers to patent the action mechanism used on their instruments, thus requiring any new manufacturer to develop their own version- as the number of manufacturers grew this led to some instruments having hugely complex arrays of levers, cranks, rods and shafts which made replacement with an electronic instrument even more attractive.

The last mass-producer of harmoniums in the West was the Estey company, which ceased manufacture in the mid-1950s. As the existing stock of instruments aged and spare parts became hard to find, more and more were either scrapped or sold. It was not uncommon for harmoniums to be 'modernised' by having electric blowers fitted, often very unsympathetically. The majority of harmoniums today are in the hands of enthusiasts.

A relatively modern example of the use of a harmonium can be found in The Beatles' hits "We Can Work It Out" and "Real Love".

Construction

Harmoniums consist of banks of brass reeds (metal tongues which vibrate when air flows over them), a pumping apparatus, stops for drones (some models feature a stop which causes a form of vibrato), and a keyboard. The harmonium's timbre, despite its similarity to the accordion's, is actually produced in a critically different way. Instead of the bellows causing a direct flow of air over the reeds, an external feeder bellows inflates an internal reservoir bellows inside the harmonium from which air escapes to vibrate the reeds. This design is similar to bagpipes as it allows the harmonium to create a continuously sustained sound. (Some better-class harmoniums of the 19th and early 20th centuries incorporated an “expression stop” which bypassed the reservoir, allowing a skilled player to regulate the strength of the air-flow directly from the pedal-operated bellows and so to achieve a certain amount of direct control over dynamics.) If a harmonium has two sets of reeds, it's possible that the second set of reeds (either tuned unison or an octave lower) can be activated by a stop, which means each key pressed will play two reeds. Professional harmoniums feature a third set of reeds, either tuned an octave higher or in unison to the middle reed. This overall makes the sound fuller. In addition, many harmoniums feature an octave coupler, a mechanical linkage that opens a valve for a note an octave above or below the note being played, and a scale changing mechanism, which allows one to play in various keys while fingering the keys of one scale.

Harmoniums are made with 1, 2, 3 and occasionally 4 sets of reeds. Classical instrumentalists usually use 1-reed harmoniums, while a musician who plays for a qawaali (Islamic devotional singing) usually uses a 3-reed harmonium.

India

right|thumb|200px|Man playing a harmonium. He is pumping the bellows of the harmonium with one hand and playing the keys with the other.

During the mid-19th century missionaries brought French-made hand-pumped harmoniums to India. The instrument quickly became popular there: it was portable, reliable and easy to learn. It has remained popular to the present day, and the harmonium remains an important instrument in many genres of Indian music. It is commonly found in Indian homes. Though derived from the designs developed in France, the harmonium was developed further in India in unique ways, such as the addition of drone stops and a scale changing mechanism.

In Kolkata, Dwarkanath Ghose of the renowned Dwarkin was adept in modifying musical instruments as per individual needs of users and is particularly remembered for modifying the imported harmony flute and producing the hand held harmonium, which has subsequently become an integral part of the Indian music scenario.cite web
url = http://www.dwarkin.com/dwarkinaboutus.htm
title = The Invention of Hand Harmonium
accessdate = 2007-04-24
last =
first =
work =
publisher =Dwarkin & Sons (P) Ltd. ] Dwijendranath Tagore is credited with having used the imported instrument in 1860 in his private theatre, but it was probably a pedalled instrument which was cumbersome, or it was possibly some variation of the reed organ. Initially, it aroused curiosity but gradually people started playing itcite web
url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/H_0070.htm
title = Harmonium
accessdate = 2007-04-24
last = Khan
first = Mobarak Hossain
work = Banglapedia
publisher =Asiatic Society of Bangladesh] and Ghose took the initiative to modify it. It was in response to the Indian needs that the hand-held harmonium was introduced. All Indian musical instruments are played with the musician sitting on the floor or on a stage, behind the instrument or holding it in his hands. In that era, Indian homes did not use tables and chairs.

The harmonium was widely accepted in Indian music, particularly Parsi and Marathi stage music, in the late 19th century. By the early 20th century, however, in the context of nationalist movements that sought to depict India as utterly separate from the West, the harmonium came to be portrayed as an unwanted foreigner. Technical concerns with the harmonium included its inability to produce meend (slides between notes) and the fact that, once tuned, it cannot be adjusted in the course of performance. The former prevents it from articulating the subtle inflections (such as andolan, gentle oscillation) so crucial to many ragas; the latter prevents it from articulating the subtle differences in intonational color between a given svara in two different ragas. For these reasons, it was banned from All-India Radio from 1940 to 1971. (Indeed, a ban still stands on harmonium solos.) On the other hand many of the the harmonium's qualities suited it very well for the newly-reformed classical music of the early 20th century: it is easy for amateurs to learn; it supports group singing and large voice classes; it provides a template for standardized raga grammar; it is loud enough to provide a drone in a concert hall. For these reasons, it has become the instrument of choice for accompanying most North Indian classical vocal genres, though it is still despised as a foreigner by many connoisseurs of Indian music, who prefer the sarangi as an accompanying instrument for khyal singing.

A popular usage is by followers of various Hindu and Sikh faiths, who use it in the devotional singing of prayers, called bhajan or kirtan. There will be at least one harmonium in any mandir (Hindu temple) or gurdwara (Sikh temple) around the world. The harmonium is also commonly accompanied by the tabla as well as a dholak. To Sikhs the harmonium is known as the vaja/baja. It is also referred to as a "Peti" ( A loose reference to a "Box") in some parts of North India and Maharashtra.

It also forms an integral part of the Qawwali repertoire, as many Qawwals use a harmonium when performing Qawwalis. It has received international fame as the genre of Qawwali music has been popularized by renowned Pakistani musicians such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Aziz Mian.

The harmonium is also used in Middle Eastern music in certain parts of the Middle East.

There is some discussion of Indian harmonium-makers producing reproductions of Western-style reed organs for the export trade.

amvadini

In Indian music, the harmonium is considered to be one of the least versatile instruments. It is usually used as an accompanying instrument for vocalists. However, some musicians have begun playing the harmonium as a solo instrument. Pandit Bhishmadev Vedi, Pandit Muneshwar Dayal, Pandit Montu Banerjee, and Pamabhusan JnanPrakash Ghosh were among those personalities who popularized the harmonium for solo performance. Later Pt. Manohar Chimote [http://www.samvadini.com] gave a completely new dimension to the harmonium as instrument and unique style of playing solo on the instrument. He added the "Swarmandel" (Harp) on top of the reed board and made some significant changes into the tuning of Harmonium. With all the modification, he renamed the traditional harmonium to "Samvadini". With this beautiful and appropriate name, Samvadini is making its mark in the field of Music. Students of Pt. Manohar Chimote like [http://www.samvadiniartiste.com Pt.Rajendra Vaishampayan] , [http://gore-jitendra.tripod.com Pt.Jitendra Gore of Mumbai, India] are making their mark in the musical horizon. Pandit Tulsidas Borkar of Mumbai, Pandit Appa Jalgaonkar, Shri Purushottam Walavalkar, Pt. Rambhau Bijapure of Belgaum, and Pt. Datta Jogdande of Mumbai have created their own names in the field of harmonium playing. More recently, Dr. Arawind Thatte from Pune has sought to create a separate identity for the harmonium as a solo instrument. Dr. Arawind Thatte has developed newer techniques of tuning and playing Harmonium with covering a wide range of forms such as 'Khayal Ang/Gayaki Ang', 'Tantakari Ang' and his specialty is playing a rare form 'Tappa'. More and more music students are learning in this fashion.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP_ioehkfzM]

Repertoire

Classical

*24 Pièces en style libre for organ or harmonium, op. 31 (1913) by Louis Vierne.

*Antonin Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for 2 violins, Cello and harmonium Op.47(b79)

*The final collection of pieces by César Franck popularly known as L'Organiste (1889-1890) was actually written for harmonium, some pieces with piano accompaniment.

*"Petite Messe Solonelle" by Rossini is scored for two pianos and harmonium.

*"Ages Ago", an early work by W. S. Gilbert with Frederic Clay features a harmonium part.

*An arrangement of Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. 7 for chamber ensemble, prepared in 1921 by students and associates of Arnold Schoenberg for the Viennese Society for Private Musical Performances, was scored for 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn, piano 4-hands, and Harmonium. The Society folded before the arrangement could be performed, and it was not premiered until more than 60 years later.

*Hin und zurück (There and Back), an operatic sketch by Paul Hindemith, uses a harmonium for its stage music.

*The album "Early Music" by Kronos Quartet has several songs featuring harmonium.
*Sospiri, Adagio for String Orchestra, op. 70 - Edward Elgar (scored for Harp or Piano and Harmonium or Organ)

* "Dances from a New England Album, 1856" for orchestra by William Bergsma includes parts for melodeon (movements I-III) and harmonium (movement IV).

*"Songs of Innocence and of Experience" for orchestra, choirs, and soloists, by William Bolcom, includes parts for melodeon, harmonica, and harmonium.

Ambient

* [http://www.christopherorczy.co.nz Christopher Orczy] from New Zealand uses a Mustel harmonium for all his works from 2004 to present. From August 2004 to July 2005, he recorded the "Harmonium Diaries" series. The series consists of 12 albums, one for each month, of solo harmonium recordings. The harmonium was subtly treated with eq and reverb. In 2006, he recorded Transition, where the harmonium was processed to a greater extent. In 2008 he finished his first religious work, "Annunciation".

Popular

*Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan,The younger brother of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was an accomplished harmonium player. His ability to play in all scales and skill in switching tunes at a moment's notice are considered amongst the best in his profession. While accompanying Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to England, he became widely known as Harmonium Raj Sahib ("King of the Harmonium"). His talents and accomplishments often went unrecognized due to playing in the shadow of his elder brother.

*Aphex Twin's experimental "Drukqs" (2001) record appears to feature a harmonium in the track "Penty Harmonium" though it is unclear whether the instrument actually playing is real, sampled or programmed.

*Current 93's "Sleep Has His House" (2000) features a harmonium for its length, a rare instrumental contribution from frontman David Tibet.

*Depeche Mode used a harmonium in one version of Enjoy the Silence.

*Radiohead used a harmonium on the track Motion Picture Soundtrack from the album Kid A (2000).

*Sufjan Stevens uses a harmonium at his live performances.

*Midway through Breakfast At Tiffany's, the score features a reprise of its theme song Moon River played on the harmonium.

*Most of Nico's post-Velvet Underground career is marked by a heavy usage of the harmonium, in avant-garde drone songs.

*The Zombies use a harmonium in their song "Butchers Tale (Western Front 1914)".

*Lawrence Gowan of Styx plays a harmonium during the band's acoustic sets.

*Brian May of Queen played a harmonium in the song Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) on Queen's album "A Day at the Races".

*Jeff Buckley plays a harmonium in the song "Lover, You Should've Come Over" on his album "Grace".

*Slade used the Harmonium on "Merry Xmas Everybody" and "In for a penny".

*Julie Feeney plays harmonium on her album "13 songs".

*The Bee Gees used a harmonium on their song "Holiday".

*Ric Veda principally accompanies himself singing with a harmonium. [http://www.ricveda.com]

*The Beatles used a harmonium extensively in their recordings, including "Strawberry Fields Forever", "We Can Work It Out", "Cry Baby Cry", "Sexy Sadie", "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", and "The Word".

*Paul McCartney, for instance on "This One" from Flowers In The Dirt.

*The Penguin Cafe Orchestra's "Music for a Found Harmonium" (not surprisingly) features a harmonium. They used the instrument on several other tracks as well, including "Cutting Branches For a Temporary Shelter".

*Focus has a part for the Harmonium in their song "Hocus Pocus"

*The movie "Punch Drunk Love" features a harmonium as a major plot device.

*Ed Harcourt plays a harmonium on many of his songs including "All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed" from "From Every Sphere" and "Something To Live For" from "Strangers".

*Talk Talk featured a harmonium player on their final two albums, "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock"

*Ivor Cutler uses a harmonium in many of his recordings and live performances.

*Tori Amos features harmonium on several songs in 1996's "Boys For Pele". She also toured with a harmonium, in addition to a piano and harpsichord, in support of the album.

*Cornershop features harmonium on tracks such as "Sleep on the Left Side".

*Xiu Xiu features harmonium on many of their albums, as well as in the live setting; most notably featured in the songs "Dr. Troll", "Nieces Pieces", and "Rose of Sharon".

*Drekka uses a Pakistani lap harmonium on many recordings since 2000, and as a staple in live sets including the 9hour MEDIUM drone performed in Chicago, IL in 2000, set up by Odum6.

*Diane Cluck has used the harmonium on her albums, "Macy's Day Bird" and "Monarcana".

*Krishna Das plays the harmonium in many of his songs.

*Tom Waits plays the harmonium in some of his songs, mostly on later albums (from Swordfishtrombones and later).

*Space Mandino plays the harmonium while throat-singing in his song "Magic Thumb"

*Br'er uses harmonium extensively on their album "of shemales and kissaboos", specifically on "Maven" and "Emily the Bear".

*Peter Hayes plays the harmonium while throat-singing in his song "Open Invitation"

*Roger Hodgson used the harmonium as the inspiration for many Supertramp songs. He bought a harmonium for £26 years ago and wrote Logical Song, Two of Us, and many others from this instrument.

*Beck used the harmonium in several live performances of the song Nobody's Fault (But My Own).

*Vanessa Carlton's second album is called Harmonium. This doesn't have anything to do with the instrument though. Carlton explains the album title as being the result of playing with the word 'harmony'.Fact|date=June 2008

*Sanjay Patel (VIRA Productions) uses a variety of harmoniums as accompaniment throughout his works.

*The current Broadway Musical Spring Awakening is one of the only Broadway shows to use a harmonium in the orchestration.

External links

* [http://trfn.clpgh.org/free-reed/history/harmonium.html The Classical Harmonium]
* [http://www.chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/harmonium.html Indian Harmonium Page]
* [http://www.aacm.org/shop/HarmFAQ.html Harmonium FAQ]
* [http://www.samvadini.com Official Website of Pt. Manohar Chimote]
* [http://www.samvadiniartiste.com Official Website of Pt. Rajendra Vaishampayan]

References