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Violin and mandolin are indeed popular (and so is saxophone), but harmonium isn't. The top few hits on Youtube are either some sort of Hindustani/Carnatic fusio
by nsenifty 4y ago
Violin and mandolin are indeed popular (and so is saxophone), but harmonium isn't. The top few hits on Youtube are either some sort of Hindustani/Carnatic fusion or solos by a hobbyist. I did find a few real performances though, but never seen it in real life. Caveat: I am not a trained musician myself, but quite a few family members are. The instruments I am used to seeing are mostly tamboori, veena, ghatam, mridangam, flute and violin and never harmonium.
However I stand corrected for having said "never".
- qart 4y agoYou're a Kannadiga, right? Have you ever seen a harikathe performance that was not accompanied with a harmonium? While harikathe is not classical music of any kind, the instrument is solidly established as an accompanist instrument in villages too. It might also the second most popular instrument for janapada geeta, the first being tabla of some sort.
- nsenifty 4y agoNot contesting harmonium being popular. It IS very popular, I was just trying to interpret what the article is trying to say that the Indian classical music purists have a thing against it.