Playing the Harmonium Part-1
Introduction
A harmonium is a musical instrument available in our part of the world. It is great for singing solo as well as in a chorus. In a country like ours, the harmonium is available plentifully all year-round, and it is the musical instrument girls and boys interested in singing first learn to play.
How I Came in Touch with my Harmonium
When I was in grade 9, my younger sister and I asked our parents for a harmonium and a singing master to teach us songs. And that was how I came in touch with my harmonium. Now I am into my 40s and the harmonium has been shifting places as we have been shifting, and it has been lying in a corner inside a box all the time.
A Photo of My Harmonium
A Snapshot with My Smartphone
The Music from My Harmonium
The music from my harmonium is still great. You have to insert air into it just like in an accordion and open out the first two big knobs in front, and music will play smoothly and loudly by hitting black and white reeds meaningfully.
The Songs I Play on My Harmonium
There are two established memorable and renowned poets in my country whose songs all male and female singers like to play. They are Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore. Their well-written songs- lyrics and music are popular in our country generation after generation. Some will choose one of the poets and sing his songs.
But our parents were liberal in the matter and wanted us to learn both the poets’ songs. Although I didn’t get to the point to learn to play just any song because our studies got harder at school, and I just abandoned singing for a while. But it was hard to get a good singing master again.
So I stayed with what I learned so far and played songs that I remembered on the harmonium from time to time. Now into my forties, I can recollect only five of the songs from my childhood and remember them vividly as I play them rhythmically on my harmonium.
My Most Favorite Song
My most favorite song is "A Butterfly" song written and composed by the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. My most favorite stanza of the song is as follows so that you get a feel for it and understand what I am trying to exemplify:
"Butterfly, butterfly
Where did you get such colorful wings?
I do not like to go to school
Butterfly, take me as your friend
With You
Butterfly, where did you get such colorful wings?"
This is just a mere translation of the original Bengali song, and I do not demonstrate any rhyming words in it. The music of the song is splendid and so are the lyrics.
A Video about Myself Singing the Favorite Stanza in Nazrul's Song
The Other Songs I Play
The renowned poet, Rabindranath Tagore composed a song, “Light, My Light.” This is one of his songs I love. The first stanza could be translated into something like:
“Light, my light, light, my dear is all over the world
Light is my eye, my smoke, light fills up my heart
Light dances, dances, o brother, near my soul
Light rings, rings, o brother, near my heart.”
Two of the other songs by the other poet that I love are, “Dry leaves form her anklet" and "Dances Iran's Girl". These are fast-paced and rhythmical songs. On the other hand, Tagore's songs are slow-paced and flowing which are beautiful as well. One can play Nazrul’s songs when in elevated, high moods while Tagore’s songs can be played in graver, heavier tones.
“Dry Leaves Form Her Anklet” goes like this in the first stanza:
“Dry leaves form her anklet
With shining colors glimmering
she goes picking up waves.”
“Dances Iran's Girl” has the first stanza as follows:
"Dances Iran's girl
Dances Iran's girl
Looks like there is half moonlight beside the tent
Looks like there is half moonlight beside the tent
The Gipsy boy seems to play his flute
The Gipsy girl seems to play her drum
In her addiction to dancing, he whistles
Dances Iran's girl
Dances Iran's girl."
The contrast between the two poets’ songs is great, and it adds flavor to one's mood. A singer can choose which poet's songs to sing as her mood, the people around and the environment speak.
Conclusion
This article dealt with what a harmonium is and the songs I like to play on it. A contrast between two glamorous poets’ songs has been highlighted, and which ones would be ideal for a national singer to sing depending on her choice and occasion.
© 2019 Rosina S Khan
Please leave your feedback in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you.
Rosina S Khan (author) on March 02, 2021:
Good to know you play harmonium and Sitar. Thank you for enjoying my personal story about music and sing-songs. I truly appreciate it.
Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on March 02, 2021:
Nice article and good to know that you play harmonium. I also play harmonium and Sitar. Your song video is wonderful.
Thank you for sharing your personal story.
Rosina S Khan (author) on March 02, 2021:
Thank you, Peggy, for your generous comment. I really appreciate it.
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 02, 2021:
It was lovely reading the words of those songs and hearing your voice while you were playing the harmonium.
Rosina S Khan (author) on March 02, 2021:
Thank you Misbah for your sweet and kind words. I am glad you enjoyed the article. Appreciated.
Misbah Sheikh from — This Existence Is Only an Illusion on March 02, 2021:
It's a lovely article, Rosina
I enjoyed reading it, and the video is also very nice
Thanks for sharing your story
Blessings
Rosina S Khan (author) on March 02, 2021:
Music and sing-songs are soothing for the soul.
Rosina S Khan (author) on November 03, 2019:
Thank you, Lorna for a bunch of compliments about which I feel great. I am glad, being good at the piano and having a love for music, you enjoyed my culture as well.
Lorna Lamon on November 03, 2019:
I really enjoyed reading your article Rosina as I have a love of music and played the piano from an early age. This instrument is so interesting and the words of the songs are beautiful. I also enjoyed your video and it was nice to hear the Harmonium being played. Thank you for sharing.
