Harmonica is a term that has several definitions. This word is used by musicians, mathematicians and physicists. In mathematics, harmonic is the simplest periodic function. In physics, this is oscillation. In music, the science of harmony. Also, harmonics were called textbooks in which the course of harmony was laid out.
Harmonica is a generic name for a family of different musical instruments that produce sound through a flexible vibrating plate. Such tools are called reed tools. To bring the tongue into action, you need to blow, pinch or pull it.
The first reed tools
Harmonica is a fairly ancient instrument. His prototypes were known before our era. In ancient China, there was an instrument that resembles modern harmonics. It was called shen. In its internal structure it was more like a labial organ. It was made from reed or bamboo tubes.
Shen was used to accompany musical works by court singers and dancers. He soon became popular among ordinary people.
Types of harmonics
- Hand harmonica. In such instruments, sounds are emitted by a stream of air, which drives the tongues with the help of fur. Basically, they have two keyboards: right and left. These include accordion, accordion and button accordion.
- Foot harmonica. If in the case of the previous view, the fur was influenced with the help of hands, then in the harmonics of the legs it is activated by feet. Harmonium is an instrument that looks very much like a piano, but the sound delivery mechanism is completely different. If the piano is a string-keyboard instrument (sound is produced when the hammer hits the string), one pedal of which pushes the silencing mechanism, and the other vice versa presses it, then harmonium is a reed wind keyboard instrument, and the pedals serve to pump air, which leads into action mechanism. Foot harmonics include nogon and organol.
- Harmonica is one of the most compact musical instruments. There are no furs, therefore, to bring the tongues into action, you need a mouth directly.
- Other types of harmonics include the orchestra, multimonics, and melodic harmonics.
The history of the harmonica
The first harmonica was created in 1821. It was intended more like a tuning fork than a musical instrument. It was a plate with slots and tongues. It was possible to extract sound from it only through exhalation. The author of the creation was a watchmaker.
The term "harmonica" is derived from the name of the accordion, which was called "hand accordion". Since their principle of operation is similar, the compact musical instrument began to be called the “harmonica” or “harmonious harmonica”.
This small musical instrument spread around the world very quickly. The production of accordions did not stop even during the wars, on the contrary, they were supplied with soldiers. The harmonica even appeared in a silent movie, of course, it was impossible to hear it there, but the fact remained captured on film.
The peak of popularity of small harmony fell in the 1950s, when the whole world was blown up by a wave of rock and roll. Now the instrument is also popular among representatives of different musical directions.
Out of the ordinary
Almost all harmonics can be attributed to wind instruments, but there is one kind of harmonics - glass - which are very different.
This instrument is an improved form of musical glasses. Everyone knows that if you wet your finger and move it along the rim of the glass, a sound will be made.
Musical harmonica is an instrument that consists of hemispherical glass cups strung on a metal rod. He spins and dips the glasses in the water, which makes them sound crystal. The mechanism drives the pedal.
This musical instrument is referred to as idiophones, that is, the source of sound for them is the very body of the instrument.