What’s a harmonium?

Often known as a ‘reed organ’ or ‘pump organ’, a harmonium is a kind of keyboard that capabilities very similar to a small organ. It creates sound by blowing air by means of steel reeds – these are tuned to totally different pitches to make musical notes.

How do harmoniums work?

That air is blown by means of these reeds by pumps that may be operated both by the fingers or ft. Very similar to the instrument’s bigger cousin the organ, a typical foot-pumped harmonium will characteristic two pedals that are related to a bellows: the latter sends air into the reeds. This leaves the performer’s fingers free to play the keyboard.

Conversely, a hand-pumped harmonium requires the performer to push and pull a deal with forwards and backwards: that is related to these all-important bellows. That leaves only one hand to play the keyboard.

‘It’s easiest to name all such devices “harmoniums” as they do on the Continent,’ says Pam, ‘however the suction devices are regularly often known as American Organs.’ For the needs of this characteristic, harmonium it will likely be.

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Most importantly, although, all of us have to suppose past that stereotypical picture of harmoniums pumping out Cwm Rhondda in rain-ravaged Methodist chapels down within the Welsh valleys, respiratory should and mothballs as their gamers pedal with fury to take care of the availability of air.

Positive, it’s an correct sufficient image in itself, however the vary of harmoniums manufactured within the devices’ heyday is mind-boggling: from low cost mass-produced puffers to self-important devices in elaborate circumstances for well-to-do properties; from crowd-pleasers constructed to conjure music for the silent display screen to the noble ‘artwork harmoniums’.

The harmonium in classical music

For Dutch participant Dirk Luijmes, the harmonium ought to in the end be judged on what the most effective devices are able to attaining. ‘If you wish to give an opinion in regards to the piano, you’re taking the most effective Steinway and never one thing being performed in a café. Hearken to an artwork harmonium. This will sound like every thing from a full or string orchestra and a French Romantic organ to a woodwind or brass ensemble and an accordion.’

‘My concert events all the time intrigue audiences,’ says organ and harmonium recitalist, Anne Web page. ‘There’s amazement at what the best of those devices are able to. So lots of the well-known Nineteenth-century composers of organ music additionally wrote for the harmonium, however maybe no one explored its capabilities greater than César Franck and particularly the German composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert.’

The baseline information which music-lovers possess – that Rossini’s jolly Petite Messe Solennelle incorporates a harmonium – must be seen merely because the tip of a sizeable iceberg. Mahler, Dvoπák, Richard Strauss, Hindemith, Berg, Schoenberg, Elgar, Liszt, Saint-Saëns… the road of nice composers who employed the harmonium goes on and on. One favorite piece is Percy Grainger’s orchestral transcription of Debussy’s Pagodes, which fingers the instrument a weird however brilliantly efficient starring function.

Nonetheless, again to the start. Harmoniums hint their origins again over 4,500 years, says Frans van der Grijn of the Harmonium Museum at Barger-Compascuum within the Netherlands. ‘The oldest picture of a free reed is discovered on a memorial stone courting again to 551 AD,’ he says. ‘Nonetheless, written documentation goes again to 1100 BC, which in flip refers to using free reeds in China in 2500 BC.’

When was the primary harmonium made?

Quick ahead to the late 18th and early Nineteenth centuries. European instrument-makers have been exploring methods of manufacturing a smaller model of the pipe organ. A lot smaller. Frenchman Gabriel Grenié made an important breakthrough in creating the Orgue expressif, so-called as a result of its sound (as soon as an ‘Expression’ cease was pulled) may very well be manipulated through the pedal motion on the bellows to facilitate shut management over crescendo and diminuendo, and a spread of tonal color. The Orgue expressif (which grew to become a generic time period) spawned many imitations, from the Adelophone and Harmonikon to the Seraphine and Terpodion.

What did these early ‘blower’ harmoniums present that held such potential for industrial improvement? A less expensive different to the pipe organ in ecclesiastical settings, in fact. ‘However producers have been additionally providing a enjoyable, fashionable system for making music within the residence,’ explains Pam Fluke. ‘They have been cheaper than pianofortes, which couldn’t match the Orgue Expressif’s skill to remain in tune and be “expressive”. Nor may the piano maintain a observe’s quantity.’

Why are they known as harmoniums?

The phrase ‘harmonium’ was coined in Paris within the 1840s by Alexandre-François Debain. He established a primary standardised mannequin of wonderful high quality which was imitated extensively, not least within the vary of stops to color the sound. By 1867 he employed round 600 staff. That phrase ‘harmonium’ grew to become the umbrella time period it stays, by no means thoughts the huge variety of particular person model names dreamt up by producers.

Vital improvements by Debain’s fellow Parisian Jacob Alexandre opened up nonetheless extra expressive choices for the participant blessed with ability and ear. However the huge enlargement of the ‘on a regular basis’ harmonium market within the Nineteenth century was sparked when an Alexandre worker migrated to the US, taking with him a key concept. He proposed utilizing suction because the means of manufacturing sound throughout the free reeds. The notion was taken up by the Boston-based firm, Mason and Hamlin. Their success (almost 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 devices made through the years) helped create a worldwide marketplace for the ‘American Organ’.

Why have been harmoniums widespread?

The know-how behind suction devices (as, for instance, Continental examples present) was able to providing glorious sound high quality and refinement. However many American Organ producers lower corners to maintain costs low. Church buildings and chapels within the UK would possibly choose up an instrument within the later Nineteenth century for as little as £4 (maybe £350 at present). ‘They may additionally put money into a tool which made it attainable to play hymn tunes with minimal musical skill,’ Phil Fluke explains. ‘This was a field, secured over the keyboard, displaying rows of numbered push-buttons. Press down the sequence of numbers given for any specific hymn whereas pedalling away, and down went the suitable chords.’

Makers of harmoniums on the whole have been to be discovered proper throughout Europe, together with Russia – even in Japan and India, the place the instrument has loved a passionate following. ‘Throughout the historical past of harmonium manufacture, it’s simple to rely over 3,000 producers,’ says Frans van der Grijn. ‘Just a few hundred have been excellent, although.’ The in depth checklist of British makers of harmoniums focuses naturally sufficient on London, but in addition options Cambridge, Leeds, Sheffield, Salisbury, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Boston – and Wokingham.

As one advert had it: ‘Within the live performance corridor, the theatre, the church, the schoolroom, within the residence and even on the street, the harmonium is the same as all emergencies.’ The photographic report reveals devices of various sizes and shapes being taken on picnic and tenting journeys, on journeys up the Nile and into Nice Conflict trenches. Harmoniums have been pictured on the again of an elephant, on a sledge in snowy wastes and on the South Seas retreat of the painter Gauguin, who’s proven taking part in away trouserless (finest not ask).

Nonetheless, the ‘artwork harmonium’ stays the best state of improvement. Once more, the innovator main the way in which for others to observe (from the 1860s on) was French – Victor Mustel. Mass manufacture didn’t curiosity him. Out-and-out high quality did. One key characteristic was an expanded vary of stops and therefore musical results. Mustel was swift to level out that extra potentialities meant growing calls for on the participant. However when you met these calls for, this was an instrument for virtuoso efficiency like some other.

‘The artwork harmonium is rather more tough to play musically than the pipe organ,’ says Anne Web page. ‘What I like, although, is that when the “Expression” cease is engaged you should use the bellows in such a approach as to be in complete management of the sound – which is able to all the time be very private to the person participant. However it takes a very long time to accumulate the abilities wanted, particularly pedalling. One primary however actually tough problem is studying to pedal in order to carry lengthy notes fully regular.’

The harmonium survived properly into the twentieth century, makers ducking and diving to seek out new methods of staying industrial. There have been the harmonium equivalents of player-pianos, with a revolving perforated roll containing all obligatory information for a firstclass (mechanical) efficiency with out the necessity to rent a virtuoso to your front room. ‘And numerous producers constructed mixed piano/harmonium devices to accompany silent movies,’ provides Phil Fluke. ‘The piano offered a percussive edge, the harmonium the sustained expression and vary of color’. Producer Edmund Whomes’s model was the Orgapian (get it?), claimed to be equal to a six-piece orchestra: ‘By far the best proposition for movie accompaniment and interludes’.

Why did the pump organ fall out of favour?

The heyday needed to finish, although. Modifications in household and social life took the air out of the home market. The electrical organ, when it arrived, required no puff. So far as the harmonium’s use as a live performance instrument for classical music is worried, says Frans van der Grijn, one consideration needs to be that ‘the comparatively small aural footprint of the harmonium doesn’t match at present’s live performance halls. A contemporary live performance grand piano is much extra highly effective than a piano from round, say, 1890.’

Let’s not overlook, although, that in our personal day the harmonium has discovered some unlikely and high-flying champions, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen amongst them.

And don’t counsel to Dirk Luijmes that the instrument has no future. He’s spent years commissioning new works and is baffled that anybody ought to query the instrument’s suitability for such challenges. ‘Would you say that to a violinist or an organist? The harmonium can solely survive if composers and musicians give it new life. It’s a singular instrument.’

Fundamental picture: Paul Gauguin taking part in the harmonium © Getty Photos