How to Play "Anand Sahib" on the Harmonium
The harmonium accompanies spiritual singing in the religious traditions of India. It is a musical instrument with a bellows and keyboard similar to an accordion, except that it sits on the ground and is played like a piano. One hand works the bellows while the other plays. Because most Asian music is learned by rote, you won't find sheet music easily. So, to learn "Anand Sahib," listen to a recorded rendition of the chant with harmonium, and learn each section individually. Finally, put it all together and play along with the recording, or play live with tabla accompaniment and singing.
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Things You'll Need
- Harmonium or similar instrument
- Recording of video of "Anand Sahib" performance
Instructions
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Choosing a Recording
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Listen to several renditions of "Anand Sahib" on YouTube or from a streaming audio source.
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Select one that has clear, distinct sound. The best versions are easy to follow by tapping your feet to the rhythm, or by singing or humming along.
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Take note how the various sections of music differ or are the same. This musical genre -- a sung prayer -- is composed of melodic formulas that have simple, regular patterns.
Analyzing the Form
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Draft a basic outline of the song's form. Each section is repetitive and follows a simple melodic contour, usually stepwise or skips in the interval of a third.
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Using the beginning letters of the English alphabet, begin identifying sections such as A, B, and C. In the case of a section that is like an already-identified section but with slight variations, use a symbol to distinguish them, such as A', and B'.
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Listen to the recording several times, until you have identified all the unique musical sections, then make a note of how many times each section is repeated.
Playing on a Harmonium
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Using the five fingers of one hand, learn each section by ear. Stop the recording and rewind as often as needed until you are comfortable with the scope and order of the notes in each section.
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Play along with a recording. Remember that the harmonium does not play every sung note, but only outlines the melody. Thus, some variation between performers is possible.
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After several repetitions and having gained confidence, you might wish to make your own musical notations to aid in your performance. Or, you might find that your playing is more expressive when playing by rote.
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Tips & Warnings
There are five distinct sections, some with variations, which begin on Mi, Fa, Sol and Do (an octave higher) in that order. From each starting tone, the melody generally trends downward by step. These generalities are only useful for mastering the general form of the piece. Repetition of the entire song -- playing along with a good recording, if possible -- is the most effective way to learn the song.
References
- Photo Credit temple sikh image by J-F Perigois from Fotolia.com
