banjira Fixed Scale Changer Harmonium HMSC. Deluxe harmonium with Scale Changer and Mechanical Coupler. This Harmonium has 3 banks of Palitana reeds: Base, Male and Female. The air-flow to the reed banks is controlled by 4 stops and there are 5 drones. The Mechanical Coupler, actually "couples" two keys allowing the player to activate 2 octaves with one stroke. The Scale Changer physically slides the Keyboard left to right to change scale/range of the keys. Integral bellows, dozens of sound combinations.
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 décor 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.
Full Size, 3 3/4 Octaves, 5 Drones, 37 KeysScale Changer & Mechanical CouplerMedium Color FinishA=440 Hz (+-3 cents)3 Banks Palitana Reeds: Base, Male & FemalePerfect for yoga, Meditation & Kirtan 