Unique Instrument....The Harmonium

harmonium, free-reed keyboard instrument that produces sound when wind is blown by foot- or hand-operated bellows through a pressure-regulating air reservoir and then through metal reeds. The metal reeds are screwed over slots in metal frames and vibrate in the frames with close tolerance when air passes through them. There are no pipes; pitch is determined by the size of the reed. Separate sets of reeds produce different tonal qualities depending on the size and shape of the tone chamber surrounding each reed of a given set. Constricted chambers, for instance, induce powerful vibration and incisive tone. Volume is controlled either by a knee-operated air valve or directly from the bellows by an expression stop or air-stop knobs that allow the wind supply to bypass the reservoir. The instrument’s compass is normally four to five octaves.

Condition

Used (normal wear)