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richard
Harmonium Players!!! Jul 07, 2001 04:06 p.m.

Where are you? Please tell us about your musical experiences. . . what is your instrument like? what kind of music do you play? Let's talk. . . get involved. . .

peace,
richard
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 02, 2001 09:41 p.m.

Harmonium being such a personal instrument for most they'd rather not talk about it. except that it be between teacher-student. I actually feel the same way but am talking anyway, funny :-) But think of the possibilities of connecting in some way. . . What is it about Indian music? it's full of Divine Love and takes us to higher levels that other music doesn't do. Western music is more about everyday emotional states, sexuality, passion, etc. and so it can wake you up to these things, but doesn't take you above them. There's probably a certain kind of evolution that goes with it and it's all good for sure, but Indian music for me is about the highest form of Love, and is transcending, transporting, it goes on and on. . .i hope i don't sound like a #Honkie# :-) and forgive me if i do. . but i was just getting tired of this unanswered post i left here a few weeks ago, if i had the code i would've deleted it, but now i have to answer it, hopefully and validate it too. . . i like this place on the net, it's very nice. . Hits! you're cool too, i enjoyed your little tongue whipping, that was pretty funny! *) but i hope noone is too offended by all that, these things happen. .but let's not let this board become a place where people fight. I've seen many other boards become overrun with trolls and abuse. Let's keep this a good and inspiring place to come and visit. . shantishantishanti
RamRamRam peace love great music om
Sita
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 04:43 a.m.

Richard,

I like very much your message above and fully agree with it. It is worthy of a harmonium player :o). I think we could change a lot of thoughts about playing harmonium, devotion, Indian music etc, I would write with pleasure how I started with the instrument, my struggles etc, but I'm not at all sure everyone is interested in it. Please if you think you would like such a conversation check me at sitabp@dakkhana.com. I already thought that maybe we could exchange notes and chords for pieces to play etc.

Sita
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 12:10 p.m.

Thank you Sita for your very kind response to my ramblings, i enjoyed reading your intro at the community board and am very glad to hear from you here. I'd like to hear more about your playing, struggles, inspirations, and would gladly tell you ablut what i do too. I know shat you mean about the fine line of what should or should not be written publicly or not. Sometimes on these boards you never know how your thoughts are recieved or who is watching and misunderstandings happen so easily. As soon as i can i will email you, and i look forward to comparing notes with you too. In the meantime, since this is a public forum i invite anyone here to open the discussion and talk about whatever you wish. This is a good opportunity to learn about the art and perhaps to help each other in unexpected ways. Peace to all.

richard
BuddhistMonk
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 01:17 p.m.

Public forums are, in my experience, a good thing, a great source of information and disscussions.I am a member of a guitar forum and have learned so much music theory from it, I dont know where Id be skillwise on guitar without it. Disscussing experiences, hardships, and anything else, to me, is fine, as long as you feel comfortable telling people.
BuddhistMonk
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 01:25 p.m.

Just to share with you, something to make you see my situation easier. I play guitar as you know, my family thinks Im really great. Everyone says Ill go somewhere with guitar. I play around town and Im starting in with a flamenco/spanish band. Anyway, my parents support the nonstop practicing of guitar. They believe I will make my living with a guitar. So when I tell them I want to buy tablas. They want to know why I would waste my time with that. They don't support it at all. I know alot of kids and people who play music for alot of reasons, to proove to someone they are good, to make money, to impress people, to show their family they are worth something. But Im in it becuase I love music, I love playing. Thats why I can get past my family not wanting me to play indian music. I love it, I love all the music.
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 02:30 p.m.

Hello Monk,

Doing music for the love of it is what will ultimately make you a great musician, although greatness by whose standards? I always had a problem about compliments and criticisms i recieved by whoever, it was difficult to discern what or who to take seriously or disregard. But this is a really important issue, and i will tell you that i was bewildered and decieved very much by taking to heart things i should have not listened to at all.

I would think that experience with the Tablas would help with your rhythm which would bring you more inspiration to your guitar playing. Too bad parents don't understand these kinds of things. I guess that first you have to spread yourself a little thin in order to become well rounded ;0)

Playing for money will happen by itself. It's really kind of a necessary curse you know. Some day you'll find yourself in the midst of many many paying gigs playing alot of music you don't really enjoy getting burnt out and wishing it would be over soon. That's what happened to me, and i don't wish that for you. But that's often the lofe of a professional musician. I played in many symphony orchestras with many good and bad conductors and that's really how it was. It was often not nice at all. . . got to go now, but blessings to you and everyone here. . . peace,

richard
BuddhistMonk
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 03, 2001 03:28 p.m.

Im sure one day I will be forced into playing something I dont particularly enjoy for money. But thanks for the kind word. have a nice day.
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 08, 2001 08:16 p.m.

Everyone just talks of the peripherals. External objects and situations. Why can't we communicate about playing. Like playing music thru the instrument itself. Take your instruments and evolve thru them. Dive into the music and drink it. Get technique so that you can get free and play like the wind. Play and play and play and play. . . . .
love love love
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 08, 2001 08:19 p.m.

SitaDevi. . .

my emails to you keep getting returned. .
any options?
Hanuman
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 09, 2001 07:37 p.m.

Indeed!!. .Indeed!! . .Namaste Dr.Ritchard Sir . . SongSongSong . . Musicmuuuusicmuuuuusic . . Have you got a microphone for your P.C. to swap a few "items" on Yahoo VOICECHAT . . . I can explain the technique . . . Meanwhile Krsna Janmastami tomorrow night so there will be a lot of Playing, Music, and eating eeeating eeeeeeeeeating !!!! haribol !!
Pancha Tattva Das
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 28, 2001 04:20 p.m.

I'm located in Alachua, Florida, USA.

I've been a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, since 1978. I used to lead a lot of temple kirtans, but I never learned to use any instrument other than karatals (hand cymbals). On a recent trip to India, my wife picked me up a very simple harmonium. To make a long story short, it was mishandled in baggage and nearly destroyed. When it got here, it was literally a pile of broken wood. With a little help, I fixed it, and started playing.

To my surprise, I found that I was picking up melodies very rapidly and playing simply by ear. I would hear a tune and pick it out almost immediately. Two years later, I have three harmoniums, I play regularly at our local Hare Krishna temple, and also at local parks.

It is such a nice instrument for embellishment of chanting of the names of God. The Gaudiya Vaishnava line has used it quite extensively in that capacity.

I'm planning to do a more in-depth study of Indian music, as it applies to devotional bhajans. I'm little inclined to learn how to play chords, since it isn't really a part of the Indian tradition, but I have heard some fellow devotees make really beautiful use of chords on harmonium.

Hare Krishna!

Pancha Tattva Dasa

richard (Jul 07, 2001 04:06 p.m.):
Where are you? Please tell us about your musical experiences. . . what is your instrument like? what kind of music do you play? Let's talk. . . get involved. . .

peace,
richard
sita
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 29, 2001 03:59 a.m.

Dear Pancha Tattwa Das,

My harmonium teacher is one of ISKCON members here in Hungary, and he teaches me all Mahamantras accompanied with chords. One is really more beautiful than the other. Accompanying with chords is simplier and easier yet still very beautiful way of singing bhajans. Further, you really learn well the techniques of playing the harmonium. I am very glad to learn from him. Wishing you good luck in playing

Hari Bol
Sita
HanumanBaba
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Aug 29, 2001 07:03 p.m.

Welcome !!! . . Welcome !!! PANCHA TATTVA DAS . . and HARIBOL!!. . Lovely to have more devotional singers posting on this messageboard . . Commendations on your Technical skills in rebuilding your destroyed Harmonium . . . Looking foward to some VOICECHAT (see my RELEVANT prior postings) . . Have you a MICROPHONE facility with your P.C. :-) . . . Namaskarams . .Hanuman

SITA-DEVI . . . Thanks for your email . . will reply shortly . .
richard
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Sep 08, 2001 09:57 p.m.

This is a lovely thing to have these wonderful musicians to respond here and be on this place on the net. It makes it special. Thank you SitaDev for your clarity, and thank you HanumanJi for your colorful presence. And PanchaTatva Das thank you for checking in, Haribol indeed!. Has anyone ever heard of a Non-Devotee Harmonium player? Strange thought, yes? Now there are 4 players here with probably many silent ones passing thru unseen, that's okay too, and hello to you all. I wanted to see who would show up here and then i left, and look at the great people to show up here?! I'm very happy to see it. HanumanJi, thanks for your interest in sharing music ideas online, that is totally ideal, with all the differences in time zones perhaps sometime in the future something could happen. a million thankyou's to everyone.

Feel free to start a new thread for any great ideas anyone would like to share,,,
HanumanBaba
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Sep 09, 2001 08:43 a.m.

Jay Ram! SriRam! JayJay Ram!!! . . and Hooorrraaaaay !!! Dr RITCHARD Maharaj has come back to provide some encouragement . . . Welcome back SIR!!! . . and when you get a free moment from your very skilled PHOTO ARTWORKS, see my briefing to BuddhistMonk at . . Community Forum/ Hanuman I have located a mike! . . for the system I have used successfully previously for setting up VOICECHAT timings . . . Meanwhile . . . Namaskarams . .
Bharat
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Feb 27, 2002 06:43 a.m.

Hi,
My teacher & i play harmonium. he is a great player of harmonium. he has 42 year's of experiance & i have 14 year's of experiance.
we play solo as well acompany. his name is
"ustad Bhure khan".
guhl
Re:Harmonium Players!!!, Sita attempt Apr 04, 2002 11:13 p.m.

OK, here's an email that I intended for Sita, but since the email address is apparently invalid, it is now for everyone. So here goes. .


I was looking at Chandra and David's (?) harmonium page and saw your reply to Richard, and thought I'd write.

The first time I heard a harmonium was a recording of Purna Das Baul (sp?) playing Re Mon Rup Nagore Jabi and Sholagobe Patore Bashi (sp?). I was captivated by the simple and majestic sound of this instrument, and have been trying to ignore it for years, unsuccessfully. Mostly I'm familiar with Pakistani use of it (The Sabri Brothers, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and various other Qawwali musicians), but the more I search for information, the harder it is to find, seemingly.

It has come to the fact that I seriously am considering saving money to buy a proper harmonium, and pursue the art of it in my life. You offered to ramble on about it (and other things), so I'm asking you to. I'd love to hear from you. My name is Guhl.

guhlvi@earthlink.net
sita
Re:Harmonium Players!!! Apr 05, 2002 06:24 a.m.

Hello Guhl,

Thanks for your nice message, my e-mail address works now. I can only encourage you to save money and buy that harmonium, it'll be the source of a lot of pleasure in your life. I think all harmonium players agree with me here. . .

Best Wishes
Sita
Dave (bolcut)
Re:Harmonium Players!!! May 10, 2002 04:28 p.m.

Richard, I've heard of a non-devotee harmonium player named Jnan Prakash Ghosh--the great tabla and vocal teacher of Calcutta. He was the first person to play a harmonium solo on All India Radio. Probably, you can only find recording of him accompanying, but he doesn't take so much of a backseat. Look for him playing with V.G.Jog or with the pianist V.Valasaria (sp?).
Hanumanbaba
Re:Harmonium Players!!! May 29, 2002 04:27 p.m.

Hi Mary! . . . Sorry to hear about your faulty "c" . . . If you care to take the (usually lose) key/springs cover off and explain exactly what you see to be the problem with your "c" . . . we can then consider what repair is necessary . . . alternatively a piano- accordion technician or organ technician will carry out repairs for a fee . . . Where did you post your original message? . . . I can't see it . . . Blessings
Mary
Re:Harmonium Players!!! May 29, 2002 11:02 a.m.

richard (Aug 02, 2001 09:41 p.m.):
Harmonium being such a personal instrument for most they'd rather not talk about it. except that it be between teacher-student. I actually feel the same way but am talking anyway, funny :-) But think of the possibilities of connecting in some way. . . What is it about Indian music? it's full of Divine Love and takes us to higher levels that other music doesn't do. Western music is more about everyday emotional states, sexuality, passion, etc. and so it can wake you up to these things, but doesn't take you above them. There's probably a certain kind of evolution that goes with it and it's all good for sure, but Indian music for me is about the highest form of Love, and is transcending, transporting, it goes on and on. . .i hope i don't sound like a #Honkie# :-) and forgive me if i do. . but i was just getting tired of this unanswered post i left here a few weeks ago, if i had the code i would've deleted it, but now i have to answer it, hopefully and validate it too. . . i like this place on the net, it's very nice. . Hits! you're cool too, i enjoyed your little tongue whipping, that was pretty funny! *) but i hope noone is too offended by all that, these things happen. .but let's not let this board become a place where people fight. I've seen many other boards become overrun with trolls and abuse. Let's keep this a good and inspiring place to come and visit. . shantishantishanti
RamRamRam peace love great music om

I am sorry no one answered. I am here for the 1st time, I am new to playing the harmonium and I am having some challenge due to a major c key being loose and therefore not playing correctly. Perhaps I might be able to get some help here to be directed to someone who might be able to correct situation. If you know of anyone would you please share? I live in Stockton, CA.
Thank you.
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