banjira Deluxe Coupler Harmonium

5 drones and 6 stops, play different banks of reeds. Mechanical coupler (plays 2 octaves with one stroke). Fixed keyboard, integral bellows, and dozens of sound combinations. Accessories Included: Padded Soft Case

This model is tuned to A=440 Hz (+-5 cents). Pitch can vary significantly with changes in temperature, pumping pressure, and number of keys played simultaneously.

Although it was invented in France nearly 200 years ago, the harmonium has been extremely popular and strongly embraced by India after it was brought there during the British Occupation. It is not meant to be played in concert like a mini organ and is mainly used as an accompaniment to devotional songs. As with many Indian instruments, the key for the music is selected to best suit the vocals or to set a mood. The reeds in the harmonium are tuned to sound well together, but not necessarily with other instruments. As such, they are not in concert pitch and not meant to be played like a Western table-top organ. Traditionally, harmoniums are usually higher pitched if compared to the Western scale.

DISCLAIMER: Instrument's finish color and dĩcor may vary from photo. Shellac is very impressionable (no pun intended) and during the instrument's long transportation from India, the shellac finish becomes marred by the packing materials and may cause the sides of harmoniums to have impressions. These impressions are cosmetic and do not affect the playability or sound, so we do not consider such impressions as blemishes or defects.