Still blowing away

The humble harmonica has been there and done all that. Here is the lowdown on one of the most endearing musical instruments

November 24, 2014 05:24 pm | Updated 08:49 pm IST

Bruce Springsteen performing on the National Mall in Washington.

Bruce Springsteen performing on the National Mall in Washington.

It has seen the rise and fall of many a music legend. It has seen two World Wars. It has been a constant companion through the birth and death of every imaginable genre in the modern music world. Yes, the humble harmonica has been there, done that and seen it all. And despite its simple design and small size, the instrument has survived and influenced the music soundscape unlike any other instrument.Shrugged off by the musically illiterate as a mere toy, this reed wind instrument also known as the French or blues harp, has shaped rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz and several other genres. From The Beatles ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘From Me To You’ and Led Zeppelin’s ‘When The Levee Breaks’ to the Rolling Stones ‘Sweet Virginia’ and Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’, the harmonica has made its presence felt. What started in Germany as a simple box-like instrument in the early 1800s has transformed over time to become a mainstream instrument among musicians. Be it around the fireplace at a picnic or on stage at a concert, the harmonica is here to stay.

Saket Jalan, the founder of the Bangalore Harmonica Lovers music club, says the harmonica has a vibrant role to play in Indian music. “The club celebrates November 22 as Indian Harmonica Day to commemorate the contributions of late musician Milon Gupta who is considered the father of the Indian harmonica. The maestro is one of the pioneers of introducing the harmonica to Indian music and made the instrument popular here.” Saket, who has the largest collection of vintage harmonicas in India (numbering close to 200), says he’s been playing the reed instrument for almost 30 years now. “I took it up initially as a hobby. It’s small and very melodic and I fell in love with the instrument for its unique sound.”

Joy Samuel, a freelance musician, says the harmonica is one of the easiest musical instruments to learn.

“It is available in all scales and comes in a range of designs from simple metallic to flamboyant stylish. It is also affordable and can be carried around even in the pocket. Musically, the harmonica adds to the personality of the song and can shape the rhythm or the song itself with its simple, yet infectious sound signature. One of my most memorable harmonica inspirations is from the movie Sholay where Amitabh Bachchan sits on the steps in the dusky sunset and plays a tune on the harmonica as Jaya Bachchan turns on the lamps.”

Wesley Newton from the acoustic-heavy River Man Band says: “I really like the harmonica. It’s a beautiful instrument and I especially love it when it’s played in the context of blues and country. It has also stood the test of time. It has, however, its peaks and drops in terms of popularity. I don’t know how popular it is with the present generation. There are still many who love and cherish the songs of the 80’s and 70’s where the harmonica played a pivotal role.” Priya Rao, who has started learning the harmonica recently, says she was inspired by the music legends of the blues, country and rock era. “From Bob Dylan, Blues Traveler and Buddy Greene to Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and even Aerosmith - you name it, they’ve all done it. The harmonica is one of the most colourful instruments from their times and it’s important for us to pass on that magic to future generations.”

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