On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 8:27 AM, Radhika, Y. <[email protected]> wrote:
> Could someone tell me why the harmonium is a terrible instrument? for > sentimental reasons, i have recently requested my mother to bring my > grandmom's harmonium as i am learning hindustani classical and it is my > teacher's preferred instrument. all I know is that harmonium is either > foreign or modified from the accordion and was introduced in the 19th > century to India. I am interested to know what are the deficiencies versus > say a Shruti box I disagree with anyone who says the harmonium is a terrible instrument. On the contrary, it is a *terrific* instrument of murder. Pick one up and bang someone on the head with it, and see. (Preferably when they're asleep so they don't see you lifting the harmonium above your head with that glazed look in your eyes and understand what you're up to.) And really, if the person has a strong cranium or something, and the whack on the head doesn't do the job, then just play the damn thing. That should be enough. As for the Shruti Box, I've never used it to kill anyone, and don't know whether it would suit that purpose. It's somewhat smaller than a harmonium, but one can always make up for bulk with velocity, so that is no indicator of its efficacy. -- Amit Varma http://www.indiauncut.com
