When we learned that the Harmonium Orchestra would be performing at Machine we ran to Wikipedia, which informed us that a harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument not dissimilar to a pipe organ.
It consists of free reed pipes and sound is produced by air being pushed or sucked over reeds resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion. It was invented in Paris in 1842 by Alexandre Debain, and later became very popular in India starting in the mid 19th century. We suspect that this event will you be your only chance this weekend to witness six harmoniumists free of charge in an Echo Park store front measuring under 600 square feet. That’s a healthy ratio of one harmonium every 100 square feet. It is highly likely that no matter where you sit at this event you will be within fainting distance of a harmonium.
The Harmonium Ensemble was founded in the fall of 2006 as a group of people interested in playing experimental music on harmoniums.
Members: Katie Bachler, Julia Holter, Qusai Kathawala, David Kendall, James Orsher, Tashi Wada
Program:
Brought to a Quiet Haven (Joseph Kudirka)
Jankélévitch Sextets (Antoine Beuger)
Love Triangle (Qusai Kathawala)
in difference (Thadeus Frazier-Reed)
the buffalo skinners (Mark So)