Harmonium
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
This article is on the musical instrument; for information on other kinds of harmonia, see Harmonium (disambiguation).
The harmonium is a small, manually-pumped reed organ.
There are two main types of harmonium: a foot-pumped version that resembles a small organ, and a hand-pumped portable version that folds up for easy transport. In western culture both types of harmonium have largely fallen out of use.
The harmonium was invented in Europe in Paris in 1842 by Alexandre Debain.
During the mid-19th century missionaries brought hand-pumped harmonium to India, where it quickly became popular due to its portability and its low price. Its popularity has stayed intact to the present day, and the harmonium remains an important instrument in many genres of Indian music, as well as being commonly found in Indian homes.
External links
- Professional harmoniums
- Beginners harmoniums
- Information on Professional Harmonium
- The Classical Harmonium
- Indian Harmonium Page
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