What Is a Harmonium?

The Harmonium is an instrument that looks like a keyboard or a piano, but sounds more like an accordion. This is because foot- and hand-operated keys and pedals shoot air through reeds that give it the sound a woodwind instrument might make. The harmonium originated in Paris in 1842, using a free reed technology that was developed around 1780. The man credited with inventing the harmonium is Alexandre Debain.

Function

The musician plays the harmonium by pressing the foot pedals at the base of the instrument. At the same time, sets of keys are all pushed to pump air at different points inside the harmonium. This air passes over various free reeds inside, which vibrate and produce different sounds, depending on the note desired.

Geography

Harmoniums are played in Western cultures, especially in the United States and Europe. When missionaries brought the instrument to India in the mid 1800s, it instantly became popular. Since then, it has influenced many varieties of music in the country.

Types

Different types of harmoniums are categorized by the sets of reeds they have. Those used in most classical music have only one set while those used for Islamic religious music usually have three sets. Two- and four-set harmoniums also exist.

Manufacture

Today, harmoniums are not manufactured by any Western nation, but they are sold between enthusiasts and are often modernized for contemporary use. The Estey Company, the last manufacturer of the harmonium, ceased production in the 1950s.

Popular Music

While many people consider the harmonium to be more popular in classical music, many popular artists have also used it. These include bands such as Radiohead and Depeche Mode.