Cottage Harmonium

Subject: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 06:24 PM

I can't believe I've just done this!!!!
Tonight I went to a local auction and bought a small cottage harmonium. No-one wanted it, and it makes beautiful sounds.
These things are not valued here, and I paid £32 for it.
Am I finally losing touch with reality? Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 06:28 PM

Late birthday present to yourself, Bron? That is really great, now how about a midi to Max, so we can hear it... on Mudcat radio?*smile* Happy Birthday, late! Hope you had a good one.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 06:33 PM

Thanks, Kat, I thought everyone had forgotten!!!! I haven't got it home, yet, and I've nowhere to put it when I do!!!! Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 06:36 PM

Sorry, Bron, I was not up to par earlier this month and did miss it. Now, let's see what can you get rid of to make room for that!!!???**BG**

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 07:10 PM

OK, Joe's curiosity got piqued, Bron. What, may I ask, is a "cottage" harmonium? I know what a harmonium is, and used to have one; but a cottage harmonium? I found this (click) on Hotbot and it was very interesting, but still not clear to me.
Enlightenment requested.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 07:18 PM

They come in both large and small curd don't they? And Joe, for enlightenment you need an Edison Harmonium,

Good for you and a Happy Birthday too Bron....This is all kat's fault of course, just because she's sick she thinks she can skip her duties!!! Best Wishes of course and again Congrats on your "present."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Alice
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 08:11 PM

Llanfair, I have an Indian harmonium, which I love, and I started a thread about harmoniums at the Mudcat ... long ago. Do a search on "harmonium" set for three years, and it will come up.

alice flynn

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 08:27 PM

You're no help at all, Catspay, but your comment certainly "brightened" up my day....
<groan>
So, do I take it a cottage harmonium is kind of like a concertina?
Bigger than a breadbox?
Somebody, please tell me!
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 08:46 PM

Gee Joe, is some HTML command?

A Harmonium is not a concertina, although it belongs to the same "free reed" family. There's a good page which I think can be found on Google. Think of an organ, like the old PUMP organs, where the foot pumped bellows blow across brass reeds. A cottage harmonium is a small portable (sorta) version....in this case, think Upright piano versus Spinet for a size comparison.

I should mention that the "Amish-Australian Pitchfork Moustache Tuner" comes in only one size.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 09:31 PM

Here's an illustration with a short explanation of their common use in the UK in Victorian times.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 02:56 AM

Mine doesn't look as posh as that, Kat, it's black, and more chunky looking. They were very popular here in Wales before the advent of TV. Singing, particularly hymns, is a big part of Welsh culture.
Nowadays, the children all take part in Eisteddfod every year, but, judging by the attendance at our music night, most of the adults are into country and western!!!!
I'd better go and shift some furniture around, now, something will have to go!!!
Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 03:26 AM

Will you be able to fit it on board for your narrow boat sessions? Will you be doing a Dolly Collins style or "House of the Rising Sun" style?
RtS ( I must get back to Leighton again some time & hope to do one of your trips)

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: richardw
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 12:42 PM

Joe;

according to the Harmonimum Homepage, reached with the above links, the marmonium is a positive pressure free-reed organ and the American organ is a negative pressure. Think mouth organ, suck and blow. Great chart at: http://shift.merriweb.com.au/harmonium/types.html

richard

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Megan L
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 12:59 PM

There was a gospel preacher in Springburn called Seth (somebody) who used to use one which he moved around with him to various halls in the area for the penny bun fights.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 02:19 PM

Are you from Leighton, then, Roger, presumably the Welshpool one, not the Crewe one where the hospital is.
I never thought of putting it on a narrowboat!!!Nah, I wouldn't be able to steer and play at the same time. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 02:53 AM

Bron, Sheila & I spent last Easter in a Landmark Trust cottage in the pinetum on the Leighton estate. At that time we didn't know that you were in the vicinity or I'd have got in touch.
RtS

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 03:45 AM

Roger, did you know that the Leighton estate is the birthplace(?)of the dreaded cupressus leylandii?, you know, the popular hedging conifer that doesn't stop growing!!!!!! Let me know when you visit again. Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 04:11 AM

I just wanted to add that, when I got the harmonium home, I found that it is actually called a cottage harmonium, and was made in Chicago!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Alice
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 12:58 PM

cool!

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From:
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 04:40 PM

Hi, we used to use a cottage harmonium on Teignmouth seafront in the 80's The baptist church there used to hold a regular Holiday maker's service there throughout the summer and the cottage harmonium was a delightful portable instrument suitable for trad hymns - we used guitars and all other kinds of stuff too but the harmonuim was great. It was owned by Rob Porch who makes and repairs all kinds of keyboard instruments piano's harmoniums harpsichords etc. If you ever need to know of someone who can repair or renovate it Rob is at Plantation Lodge Plantation terrace Dawlish Devon.

Subject: RE: Cottage Harmonium
From: Llanfair
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 05:10 PM

Cheers, Glenn. Bron