History of Harmonium

Harmonium, one of the main musical instruments in Indian classical music, has its roots in European countries like France, Germany etc. So, what is the real history of Harmonium? How was it imported into India?

 The birth of Harmonium in Europe

Anton Hackle first designed a keyboard instrument named “Physharmonica”; the prototype. After a few decades, Gabriel Joseph Grenié invented a new instrument, “Orgue Expressif’ and it was able to produce more complex sounds through free-reeds. In 1840, the European Harmonium was invented. Alexandre Debain, a French instrument maker, invented a better version of Orgue Expressive. He named it “Harmonium”.

The European Harmonium gradually became popular in Germany France. Even during modern times, Germen free-reed harmoniums are coveted. The European Harmonium had foot-operated bellows to produce sounds. The knee operated the valves and stops to makes sounds and melodies. The valves and stops allowed the wind to pass through the reservoir, and it produced more complex tones than any other musical instrument.

Harmonium became a delight for a classical western music school for its complex sounds and melodic nature during its peak. As a result, a lot of composers started to write down musical pieces, especially for Harmonium. French composer Louis Vierne, Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, Belgian Composer Cesar Frank, German composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert and others composed excellent and memorable pieces, especially for Harmonium.

Harmonium was at first a musical instrument for the affluent section. But, gradually, it became popular among the mass and folk musicians, and street musicians started to use it for patriotic music and ballads.

During the 19th century, Fench produced double-keyboard Harmonium was extremely popular in the USA. It Was even popular in the Scandinavian folk music sector till mid 20th century.

Harmonium gradually lost its status and grace as electronic music instruments became popular in the 20th century with the changing music scenario of the west.

At present, the Harmonium is mostly seen in churches and with street musicians who use the portable Harmonium to perform live. However, modern musicians notably, Timo Alalotila de Milla Viljiamma, continue to work with Harmonium and keep its traditions alive.

Indian Harmonium- a Revolution

The British rulers imported Harmonium in India. It was portable, could produce a variety of notes and sounds, and withstand the extremely humid weather of the Indian subcontinent. As a result, harmoniums were common in Church prayers and Western music scenarios during Colonial rule.