The Harmonica (Mary and KV)

You–yes, you–probably have a harmonica somewhere in your house. It might be in a box of memories in the attic, or in a bin of plastic party-favors in the closet, or just hanging out on a dresser somewhere. The harmonica is easy to get a sound on, very durable, and fits in your pocket. 

 The basic concept of harmonica sound production is the free-reed. Single reeds–each playing a single pitch–are housed within the body of the instrument, each in an individual chamber. Air is blown into the chamber–usually through either external bellows or human lungs--causing the reed to vibrate. There are many types of instruments that are based the free-reed design. 

 One of the most interesting aspects of harmonica history is that its design can be traced all the way back to the Chinese sheng–a mouth organ that’s been in existence for well over two-thousand years. The trail from sheng to harmonica actually leaves the use of human lungs behind for several steps–we’ll see the introduction of the reed organ and the physharmonica, one of several kinds of harmonium that develops in Europe–before human lungs are reintroduced in place of external bellows. 

 Once the modern harmonica is established in the mid-1800s, it quickly spreads throughout Europe and around the world–especially to America, where it becomes important in both the blues and folks music. And, because of its small size, it even becomes the first instrument played in space!