Tirupati Kirtan Mini
The Kirtan Mini harmonium from Tirupati is ideal for frequent travellers among yogis and kirtan singers. Considering its small size and simple features, it has an amazing sustain and sound quality.
Construction, playability and sound quality are equivalent to our Kirtan Classic harmoniums from Tirupati and Paloma, as well as the 23 B from Bina and other similar models of other brands. The Tirupati Kirtan Mini has a smaller range and a little less sustain though. It has no octave coupler and only two instead of three or four drone notes. This somewhat
limits the possibilities of artistic expression, but hardly matters for the accompaniment of mantras, chants and kirtans.
Thanks to Krishna Das or Jai Uttal, the design with fold-down bellows, integrated case, double reeds and simple stick keys is a classic in the western kirtan scene. Its simplicity makes it both inexpensive and robust. Double reeds provide a full, warm sound. And its fold-down bellows, low weight and small format make it so compact that you can easily carry it with just one hand.
We offer the Tirupati Kirtan Mini in dark or light colour as shown below. Let us know your preference when you order!
"BONUS: One month free online access to comprehensive harmonium teaching material at the Bhakti Breakfast Club with harmonium purchase!" - more info here!
Sound sample Tirupati Kirtan Mini
- complete melodic range with both registers
- three-note chords in middle range
- complete melodic range with both registers without cover (jali)
- 32 simple stick keys
- range of two and a half octaves from F to C
- two reeds in middle and low register for each note
- low range F2 - C5, middle range F3 - C6
- 2 register stops for separate or combined use of middle and low register
- 2 stops for drone notes
- multiple fold external bellows with side opening
- removable cover with opening option (jali) over key mechanism
- folding mechnism into integrated case
- cabinet made of pine wood
- incl. padded bag
Pine wood is the first choice for harmoniums around Delhi and in North Western India. It is much softer than teak wood, which is more common in Mumbai and Calcutta. Therefore pinewood harmoniums often get little dents or scratches during manufacturing, storage or transit to Europe. Such marks are a natural property of the wood and can not be seen as flaws or defects.
TIRUPATI is the international brand name for instruments from Sharma Musicals in Ghaziabad, a neighbouring city of Delhi. Sharma Musicals was founded in 1934 by Jagdish Prasad Sharma and is today one of the leading Indian harmonium makers. The current manager Mayank Sharma runs the business in the fourth generation. Thanks to solid infrastructure, long experience and good quality awareness, Sharma Musicals is a reliable supplier of all harmonium models typical of Delhi and North-West India. In 2014 and the following years, instruments from Sharma Musicals had temporarily been sold in the USA under the name Bhava Harmonium and were recommended by renowned kirtan teacher Daniel Tucker back then. Sharma Musicals is a partner of India Instruments since 2016.
In India, our harmoniums are tuned to international concert pitch of a = 440 hertz. In Europe, however, they usually sound slightly higher at a = 441 to 442 Hertz due to the colder climate. The difference is small and not necessarily noticeable even to trained ears.
On request we can tune exactly to 440 hertz for 28 € additional charge.
Tuning to 432 hertz is also possible by arrangement for an additional charge.
NOTE:
Air temperature and blowing pressure influence the vibration frequency of harmonium reeds. At higher temperature and higher pressure, it decreases; at lower temperature, it increases. In our workshop in Berlin we tune at room temperature around 20 degrees Celsius.
Measure (closed case): height 18 cm, width 49 cm, depth 31 cm, weight: 7.7 kg
Each instrument is individually hand-crafted and might differ from our description.
