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Harmonium belongs
to the family of free-reed aerophones. It is a small, tabletop
size organ with bellows at the back that is pumped by one
hand while the other hand plays the keyboard. It contains
multiple chambers inside with different banks of free reeds in
each chamber. The size and shape of each reed in the bank
determines its pitch. Engaging stops directs the airflow to
various chambers. Each playing Key and each Drone controls the
air through one or multiple reeds within a chamber. When
engaged, Drones provide a continual harmony note and are
played in union with the keyboard.
Though not native to India, today it is widely used
in all forms of Indian music whether it is classical, Hindustani, devotional
or film music. |
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