Comments on: The Harmonium as an Accompanying Instrument http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:50:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dadoji http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/comment-page-1/#comment-3650 Dadoji Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:23:04 +0000 http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=1494#comment-3650 No more than I like Hamsadhwani or Maru Bihag or Bageshree or..... :-) No more than I like Hamsadhwani or Maru Bihag or Bageshree or….. :-)

]]> By: choxbox http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/comment-page-1/#comment-3649 choxbox Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:34:48 +0000 http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=1494#comment-3649 Interesting post. Why is one not taught to play the sarangi (as against the harmonium) when one is learning HM? <em>The harmonium is much easier to play and may help a vocalist with scales (I sometimes use an electronic piano to help me make out if I am hitting the right higher octave notes and to differentiate between them) but I don't play the violin while learning how to sing Carnatic-it isn't necessary...similarly one doesn't play sarangi while learning vocal, though sarangi players do learn to sing to help them play better. Ustad Sultan Khan sings very well, for example. A lot of Hindustani singers do learn to play the harmonium quite well, though it isn't strictly necessary IMHO. I like it when Ajoy Chakrabarty sings, but I start getting edgy when he plays the harmonium-it sort of disturbs the music of his voice for me.</em> Interesting post.

Why is one not taught to play the sarangi (as against the harmonium) when one is learning HM?

The harmonium is much easier to play and may help a vocalist with scales (I sometimes use an electronic piano to help me make out if I am hitting the right higher octave notes and to differentiate between them) but I don’t play the violin while learning how to sing Carnatic-it isn’t necessary…similarly one doesn’t play sarangi while learning vocal, though sarangi players do learn to sing to help them play better. Ustad Sultan Khan sings very well, for example. A lot of Hindustani singers do learn to play the harmonium quite well, though it isn’t strictly necessary IMHO. I like it when Ajoy Chakrabarty sings, but I start getting edgy when he plays the harmonium-it sort of disturbs the music of his voice for me.

]]> By: Dadoji http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/comment-page-1/#comment-3647 Dadoji Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:42:44 +0000 http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=1494#comment-3647 Harmonium fits nicely as the accompanying instrument if Todi is being presented. I think it fits even with other ragas but it feels special with Todi...at least to me. <em>You love Todi a lot, don't you?!</em> Harmonium fits nicely as the accompanying instrument if Todi is being presented. I think it fits even with other ragas but it feels special with Todi…at least to me.

You love Todi a lot, don’t you?!

]]> By: Neha http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/comment-page-1/#comment-3648 Neha Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:33:29 +0000 http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=1494#comment-3648 I think it might have something to do with the "heaviness of hand" that some harmonium players employ. I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy the harmonium. But I find that it doesn't really interfere with the experience as long as it doesn't compete with the vocalist. <em>It is heaviness of hand, and also for me, the fact that the notes don't glide into each other as they do in a violin or sarangi.</em> I think it might have something to do with the “heaviness of hand” that some harmonium players employ. I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy the harmonium. But I find that it doesn’t really interfere with the experience as long as it doesn’t compete with the vocalist.

It is heaviness of hand, and also for me, the fact that the notes don’t glide into each other as they do in a violin or sarangi.

]]> By: dipali http://www.likhati.com/2008/12/14/the-harmonium-as-an-accompanying-instrument/comment-page-1/#comment-3646 dipali Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:02:55 +0000 http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/?p=1494#comment-3646 This was lovely- and of course he evoked Kishori Tai's beautiful Bhoop! I have heard amazing harmonium accompanists like Appa Jalgaonkar who really enhance vocal performances,and who hold their own in their solo passages too. The violin and sarangi both do generally harmonise better with the human voice, though. <em>Yes, he is one of the best. But however good a solo passage is on its own merits, I just don't like them in vocal concerts. Recently went for a jugalbandi which I shall write about-and the harmonium and violin players accompanying the singers were equally proficient...but the sound of the violin won hands down.</em> This was lovely- and of course he evoked Kishori Tai’s beautiful Bhoop!
I have heard amazing harmonium accompanists like Appa Jalgaonkar who really enhance vocal performances,and who hold their own in their solo passages too.
The violin and sarangi both do generally harmonise better with the human voice, though.

Yes, he is one of the best. But however good a solo passage is on its own merits, I just don’t like them in vocal concerts. Recently went for a jugalbandi which I shall write about-and the harmonium and violin players accompanying the singers were equally proficient…but the sound of the violin won hands down.

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