General Harmonium

[bscheema]

During the mid-19th century, missionaries brought French-made hand-pumped harmoniums to India. The instrument quickly became popular there: it was portable, reliable and easy to learn. It has remained popular to the present day, and the harmonium remains an important instrument in many genres of Indian music. For example, it is a staple of vocal North Indian classical music concerts. It is commonly found in Indian homes. Though derived from the designs developed in France, the harmonium was developed further in India in unique ways, such as the addition of drone stops and a scale-changing mechanism.A popular usage is by followers of the Hindu and Sikh faiths, who use it to accompany their devotional songs (bhajan or kirtan). There is at least one harmonium in any mandir (Hindu temple) or gurdwara (Sikh temple) around the world.

when it became a part of gurmat sangeet !!! does it effected the gurmat sangeet ,in west its not considered as a good instrument ,japposatnamwaheguru: why sharomani Gurudwara prabhndak committe ignored puratan sikh saaj

 

[Astroboy]

I know many gurdwaras in Malaysia have tons of broken musical instruments including harmoniums. A repair man could buy them by the kilos and profit from selling them refurbished. While tablas, dholkis are easier to repair, harmoniums are harder.

 

[Kanwaljit.Singh]

Thankfully Gurmat Sangeet Project and Prof Kartar Singh are keeping the legacy alive!