@Zylstra555 - This harmonium speaks as fast as my other suction instruments, but with the percussion stop it completely changes it. With percussion, a hammer strikes each reed (only in one rank) as you press the keys, like a piano action – so you get this instant accented attack.
@rodneyjantzi Now that is fascinating! If you get to a place in your restoration where this can be seen easily, please take a video of how this works, I'd love to see it.
@Zylstra555 - Absolutely! I was thinking about a short video of the differences between the North American suction reed organ and harmonium with percussion.
Sounding good Rodney. You'll soon get the feel of the blowing. Ideally, a sloped top bench is good - and try to use the ball of the foot rather than with the foot flat. With a lot of practice you can produce a tremelo on the blowing pedals.
@grandunion - sometimes, as on Rodney's Debain, percussion is a separate stop, sometimes, as my Alexandre, it's combined with the no.1 rank - and sometimes it's a seperate stop that also draws the no.1 rank. It varies between builders/date of build!
This instrument is going to be a real treasure when you're done with it, Rodney! It already sounds great. It will only get better! Does it have prolongement on it? That, a good celeste and some Karg-Elert and you've got heaven! That logo-crest under glass is funny though - I keep expecting to see a bubble underneath to tell whether it is level! What a fantastic instrument. After restoration it will play like the concert instrument it is, out of gratitude. Glad it found its way to you.
Now listen here.....you have to finish Karn#3 before you can do anything else on the Debain......I know you are itching to really dig into this harmonium. Atleast this way you can play it will taking a break from the Karn! ;o)
Well done, Rodney! The instrument has a very nice sound and it looks like if it has already been restored. I'm curious why at the beginning you pulled both the Cor Anglais/Flûte and the Percussion stops; usually Percussion stops open also the Cor Anglais/Flûte mutes: is it not working like this in your Debain?
@grandunion - The percussion on this harmonium is all on its own, it sounds like a little xylophone when played solo. I only have played one other harmonium before, it was an Alexandre and the percussion was tied to the other stops just as you describe.
FABULOUS! I am amazed at the condition of that Harmonium in the still "as is" condition. You are sure making it talk beautifully and it does so well with the Baroque. Great performance of that Fugue from the 8 Little Preludes and Fugues. (Stunning actually.)
Congratulations on the new Harmonium, what a great instrument. Rare find!
musicman7nc 2 months ago
Hi Rodney,
Would you say that the harmonium speaks faster than a suction instrument, about the same, or slower?
Thanks for sharing.
Zylstra555 2 months ago
@Zylstra555 - This harmonium speaks as fast as my other suction instruments, but with the percussion stop it completely changes it. With percussion, a hammer strikes each reed (only in one rank) as you press the keys, like a piano action – so you get this instant accented attack.
rodneyjantzi 2 months ago
@rodneyjantzi Now that is fascinating! If you get to a place in your restoration where this can be seen easily, please take a video of how this works, I'd love to see it.
Zylstra555 2 months ago
@Zylstra555 - Absolutely! I was thinking about a short video of the differences between the North American suction reed organ and harmonium with percussion.
rodneyjantzi 2 months ago
BWV 553
AzeroII 2 months ago
Sounding good Rodney. You'll soon get the feel of the blowing. Ideally, a sloped top bench is good - and try to use the ball of the foot rather than with the foot flat. With a lot of practice you can produce a tremelo on the blowing pedals.
@grandunion - sometimes, as on Rodney's Debain, percussion is a separate stop, sometimes, as my Alexandre, it's combined with the no.1 rank - and sometimes it's a seperate stop that also draws the no.1 rank. It varies between builders/date of build!
revtonynewnham 2 months ago
This instrument is going to be a real treasure when you're done with it, Rodney! It already sounds great. It will only get better! Does it have prolongement on it? That, a good celeste and some Karg-Elert and you've got heaven! That logo-crest under glass is funny though - I keep expecting to see a bubble underneath to tell whether it is level! What a fantastic instrument. After restoration it will play like the concert instrument it is, out of gratitude. Glad it found its way to you.
ZaneCCooper 2 months ago 3
Rodney, sound great can't wait to hear it after you finish with it!
rttipton 2 months ago
Awesome Rodney, just purely Awesome!
Now listen here.....you have to finish Karn#3 before you can do anything else on the Debain......I know you are itching to really dig into this harmonium. Atleast this way you can play it will taking a break from the Karn! ;o)
towerclock1843 2 months ago
This is a wonderful piece. The tone is very unique! It is in fact so smooth that if I closed my eyes, it could have pipes!
Voldemorty2001 2 months ago
Well done, Rodney! The instrument has a very nice sound and it looks like if it has already been restored. I'm curious why at the beginning you pulled both the Cor Anglais/Flûte and the Percussion stops; usually Percussion stops open also the Cor Anglais/Flûte mutes: is it not working like this in your Debain?
grandunion 2 months ago
@grandunion - The percussion on this harmonium is all on its own, it sounds like a little xylophone when played solo. I only have played one other harmonium before, it was an Alexandre and the percussion was tied to the other stops just as you describe.
rodneyjantzi 2 months ago
Congratulations Rodney! Glad you found a good European harmonium in such good condition. The finish looks great, and it sounds great already.
Mustel1887 2 months ago
Sounds pretty good to me Rodney. When do you find all of the time to work on all those instruments????
ChucklesKeys 2 months ago
Fantastic. Those bass notes on the Debain are awesome. Now I'm having second thoughts about selling my Trayser. (Are you listening, Justin?)
tentreb 2 months ago
@tentreb Um, well, um kinda Mike. But where would I be today without that Trayser? I would be climbing the walls!
Musique3579 2 months ago
FABULOUS! I am amazed at the condition of that Harmonium in the still "as is" condition. You are sure making it talk beautifully and it does so well with the Baroque. Great performance of that Fugue from the 8 Little Preludes and Fugues. (Stunning actually.)
Musique3579 2 months ago 5