What is harmonium?

Harmonium is a type of organ that uses air pushed through reeds to create sound. It is popular in Indian music and is often described as an accordion. Although most often used in eastern music, harmonium has been developed in Paris and brought to India during the British occupation of the country.

In 1842, Alexandre Debain introduced Harmonium in Paris, although several similar instruments were invented at about the same time. Free -standing keyboards and pipes were used as an alternative to larger pipe organs in churches that were inappropriate or too expensive for small parishes or chapels. Their small size also made it possible to travel with the tools, even if it moved to a distant country. British colonialists brought with them harmoniums during their occupation of India, which led to the use of an instrument in Indian music.

During their Western popularity period, some were designed to resemble pipeline organs, joke another height added to the pipeline to look expansive. Originally they were played as a piano keyboard, with constant pedaling of air pumping devices via reeds and creating the desired sound. Later models replaced the manual electronic pump to maintain the air flow constant.

Although traditional Indian tools are created to imitate human voice, harmoniums quickly gained popularity for its ability to withstand tropical climate and the basic operating system. The organization became known as peti or Baja and was often used to accompany singing. Indian harmonies often include drone reeds that keep a continuous tone to create a key or main note of the work. They also quickly eliminated the foot pedals, because most Indian musicians play or kneeling and could not run an air pedal from these positives. Most modern organs have replaced the bellows controlled by the legs that could be dominatedana by hand.

In Western music, many well -known classical composers have created music for harmonium or in accordance with the instrument. Antonin Dvorak, Rossini, Bruckner and Elgar have all created pieces especially for this type of organ. In modern Western music, harmonium is sometimes used by experimental belts that often add unusual tools to their songs such as Radiohead and Depeche Mode. The Beatles was also interested in Indian music influenced by Indian and represented harmonium in many of their later songs, including "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Sexy Sadie".

Harmonium offers a clear musical experience from other keyboard or organs. Its attraction has influenced many cultures, and in most Indian forms of music remains a common instrument. Created in France, accepted by England and improved by India, Harmonium is indeed one of the most global instruments and is worth listening, albeit only for its historical value.