Bhava Mini "Kirtan" Harmonium | Standard Edition - Natural
- Quality Fit and Finish: Chrome hardware components and smooth, durable wood finish.
- Solid Wood Construction: All select grade woods. All sustainably sourced.
- Thoughtful Engineering: Fine-tuned for optimal performance.
- Ethical Manufacturing: Built with a focus on quality over quantity. The result of a healthy work culture, mutual respect, great tools, high-quality materials, proud people, and fair wages.
- Description
- Product Specs
- Shipping & Store Info
- Tuning Options
- Disclaimer
Thoughtfully designed and crafted, Bhava Standard Edition harmoniums are an introduction to the unique excellence that sets this brand apart.
The Bhava Mini harmonium is a collapsing 32-key travel harmonium. Built to be appreciated by both new and experienced musicians, the Standard Edition is a traditional build executed with precision.
The Bhava Mini has set a new standard for "mini" harmoniums, delivering full, robust sound and smooth play in an efficient package. For the musical nomads of the world, who truly cannot commit to a larger box, this harmonium strikes a nice balance between portability and sound quality.
Includes:
- FREE Shipping to US (lower 48 only)
- Expert tuning and refinement services completed at our shop in Urbana, IL
- Learning offers from our friends at the Bhakti Breakfast Club (first month FREE access), KirtanLeader.com, and Sacred Sound Lab.
- Padded Gig Bag
- Weight: 16.5 lbs.
- Dimensions: 19 in. x 12 in. x 8 in. (closed), 19 in. x 12 in. x 13.5 in. (open)
- Color: Natural
- Finish: Matte
- Exterior Construction: Select Pine
- Interior Construction: Select Pine
- Box Type: Folding, Safari-style
- Key Construction: One-piece
- Number of Keys: 32
- Reed Type: Punjabi-style, Classic
- Reed Banks: 2 sets (Bass, Male)
- Reed Orientation: Horizontal
- Stops: 2 (Bass, Male)
- Drones: 2 (C, G)
- Coupler: None
- Scale Changer: None
SHIPPING: Your instrument will arrive safely, and if it doesn't, we'll take care of it. Our packing methods have ensured that over 99% of the instruments we ship arrive undamaged. Should things not go perfectly, we will get you a replacement, refund, part or whatever is necessary. No problem.
STORE: Old Delhi Music makes buying a quality harmonium, tabla set, sitar, or other Indian instruments easy.
Our business has been family owned and operated since 2010. In the U.S., we are a small team of musicians dedicated to refinements and customer support. In India, we’ve built relationships with many of the country's best musical artisans and founded a workshop where our staff ensures quality.
We sell and ship the best Indian instruments available on earth throughout North America and globally.
For the complete back story, check out this video -
For more on our founder and origin story, this video was produced in 2014 for the PBS "Indie America" series -
OUR TUNING PROCESS:
Our standard harmonium tuning process begins at our shop in India and ends at our U.S. location where a member of our staff - all highly trained and deeply experienced musicians - will finalize the set-up and tuning on every harmonium we sell. You won't find a more thorough refinement process anywhere.
Bhava harmoniums are available with the following tuning options:
- Concert Pitch (A440 tuning) - FREE: A Concert Pitch tuned harmonium will match the default tuning for Western Instruments - piano, guitar, etc. - "equal tempered" with the middle A resonating at exactly 440 hz. For this service, all reeds are retuned up and down to scale to correspond with the Concert Pitch standard. This is the best choice for most musicians and students.
- Cosmic Pitch (A432 Tuning) - Add $100/Non-returnable: With this service, all reeds are drastically retuned nearly a quarter tone below standard Concert Pitch to match a middle A resonating at exactly 432 hz. For most customers, this service is neither practical or recommended, but for those who are experimenting in this direction, we do offer the service on select models from our store. While this service will not void any warranty with our store, it is not reversible. Therefore, any harmoniums or shruti boxes tuned to A432 will not be eligible for return or exchange.
An A432 hz. referenced instrument will sound very out of tune when played alongside any traditionally tuned instrument. This means if you are taking a harmonium course, you will not be able to play this instrument alongside your instructor or classmates. Similarly, if you are using this instrument in a recording or performing context, you will not be able to use this unless every other instrument is also tuned to this pitch reference.
While much of India is rapidly advancing, the Indian instrument manufacturing process remains very old school. From touch ups to tuning, much of what we do at Old Delhi Music is add a layer of quality control to an otherwise non-standardized production process.
We wrote THIS ARTICLE to ensure customers understand and might appreciate this vintage production style, the unique products we carry, and how we're working to ensure genuine quality, despite the odds. It's a quick read, and definitely worthwhile for anyone considering the purchase of a traditional Indian instrument.
Thank you,
Old Delhi Music
Thoughtfully designed and crafted, Bhava Standard Edition harmoniums are an introduction to the unique excellence that sets this brand apart.
The Bhava Mini harmonium is a collapsing 32-key travel harmonium. Built to be appreciated by both new and experienced musicians, the Standard Edition is a traditional build executed with precision.
The Bhava Mini has set a new standard for "mini" harmoniums, delivering full, robust sound and smooth play in an efficient package. For the musical nomads of the world, who truly cannot commit to a larger box, this harmonium strikes a nice balance between portability and sound quality.
Includes:
- FREE Shipping to US (lower 48 only)
- Expert tuning and refinement services completed at our shop in Urbana, IL
- Learning offers from our friends at the Bhakti Breakfast Club (first month FREE access), KirtanLeader.com, and Sacred Sound Lab.
- Padded Gig Bag
Product Specs
- Weight: 16.5 lbs.
- Dimensions: 19 in. x 12 in. x 8 in. (closed), 19 in. x 12 in. x 13.5 in. (open)
- Color: Natural
- Finish: Matte
- Exterior Construction: Select Pine
- Interior Construction: Select Pine
- Box Type: Folding, Safari-style
- Key Construction: One-piece
- Number of Keys: 32
- Reed Type: Punjabi-style, Classic
- Reed Banks: 2 sets (Bass, Male)
- Reed Orientation: Horizontal
- Stops: 2 (Bass, Male)
- Drones: 2 (C, G)
- Coupler: None
- Scale Changer: None
Shipping & Store Info
SHIPPING: Your instrument will arrive safely, and if it doesn't, we'll take care of it. Our packing methods have ensured that over 99% of the instruments we ship arrive undamaged. Should things not go perfectly, we will get you a replacement, refund, part or whatever is necessary. No problem.
STORE: Old Delhi Music makes buying a quality harmonium, tabla set, sitar, or other Indian instruments easy.
Our business has been family owned and operated since 2010. In the U.S., we are a small team of musicians dedicated to refinements and customer support. In India, we’ve built relationships with many of the country's best musical artisans and founded a workshop where our staff ensures quality.
We sell and ship the best Indian instruments available on earth throughout North America and globally.
For the complete back story, check out this video -
For more on our founder and origin story, this video was produced in 2014 for the PBS "Indie America" series -
Tuning Options
OUR TUNING PROCESS:
Our standard harmonium tuning process begins at our shop in India and ends at our U.S. location where a member of our staff - all highly trained and deeply experienced musicians - will finalize the set-up and tuning on every harmonium we sell. You won't find a more thorough refinement process anywhere.
Bhava harmoniums are available with the following tuning options:
- Concert Pitch (A440 tuning) - FREE: A Concert Pitch tuned harmonium will match the default tuning for Western Instruments - piano, guitar, etc. - "equal tempered" with the middle A resonating at exactly 440 hz. For this service, all reeds are retuned up and down to scale to correspond with the Concert Pitch standard. This is the best choice for most musicians and students.
- Cosmic Pitch (A432 Tuning) - Add $100/Non-returnable: With this service, all reeds are drastically retuned nearly a quarter tone below standard Concert Pitch to match a middle A resonating at exactly 432 hz. For most customers, this service is neither practical or recommended, but for those who are experimenting in this direction, we do offer the service on select models from our store. While this service will not void any warranty with our store, it is not reversible. Therefore, any harmoniums or shruti boxes tuned to A432 will not be eligible for return or exchange.
An A432 hz. referenced instrument will sound very out of tune when played alongside any traditionally tuned instrument. This means if you are taking a harmonium course, you will not be able to play this instrument alongside your instructor or classmates. Similarly, if you are using this instrument in a recording or performing context, you will not be able to use this unless every other instrument is also tuned to this pitch reference.
Disclaimer
While much of India is rapidly advancing, the Indian instrument manufacturing process remains very old school. From touch ups to tuning, much of what we do at Old Delhi Music is add a layer of quality control to an otherwise non-standardized production process.
We wrote THIS ARTICLE to ensure customers understand and might appreciate this vintage production style, the unique products we carry, and how we're working to ensure genuine quality, despite the odds. It's a quick read, and definitely worthwhile for anyone considering the purchase of a traditional Indian instrument.
Thank you,
Old Delhi Music
Customer Reviews
I play and own a variety of harmoniums and needed to replace one and wanted to find a lightweight yet full sounding harmonium. Also needed to make sure that it was made with care and compassion. This instrument is exactly what I wanted. Portable with a great sound. We are spending time together to break her in and it’s a joy.
My partner and I are both learning harmonium to chant and sing kirtan. We've travelled with the Bhava Mini "Kirtan" to play with groups and have consistently found it to be the best of the bunch, so much so that a music teacher/kirtan leader remarked on its quality.
Compared to harmoniums that others bring to these gatherings this one i) has far richer sound, ii) good sustain on the bellows such that there are no gaps and the sound is smooth when pumping and iii) better volume. Point "ii" is particularly helpful for those who are still acclimating to playing harmonium. I highly recommend this instrument.
The ONLY point on which I advise caution regards the carrying case, particularly the shoulder strap. I do recommend inspecting that strap before traveling with your harmonium. The stitching at the ends of the strap where it attached to the bag wasn't very sturdy on ours. It came undone during the very first transport. Thankfully we were traveling within the city (NYC). Though it was ultimately fine, the strap suddenly giving way gave us a shock. I subsequently had it reinforced (serged) and now it works perfectly.
Last note, and not related to the harmonium, we also purchased kartals. Again, when we've used these in company with others who have kartals purchased from elsewhere, the ODM ones seem to be better quality.
All that aside, the harmonium and kartals shipped remarkably fast. I would happily and without reservation purchase from ODM again.
Very pleased with the quality of this harmonium. I had previously bought a Bina 11 harmonium from a different company which was hardly fit for use, the Bhava mini is 100x better in every aspect, particularly the build quality and sustain.
The only thing I would say is that I didn’t realise how expensive the customs fees would be which was an additional £170 (U.K) so bear in mind you will have to pay this on top of the delivery fee if you live here:)
I absolutely love my Bhava Mini! I rarely write reviews, but I wanted to write a review here because I own my own business and I know that this would be the best way to thank the company. I will start by saying I am very impressed with them. I spent a lot of time researching before I bought my Bhava Mini. In fact, I took an entire year to make the decision to buy it. It is high quality, works, and sounds terrific! Recently, when a few screws came out of the hinges and were lost, I contacted the company. I was a bit bummed that this happened, but you have to understand that these instruments are very quirky. They are not like a piano or guitar. I was already passed my warranty limit. They responded to me immediately with a phone call and an email. They offered to send me all the materials, free of charge, that I needed to fix it and offered to help me through a video call if I needed it. Fortunately, I was able to fix it on my own pretty quickly thanks to the materials and their prompt response. I would 100% trust this company to buy the instrument you desire! Thank you Old Delhi music! I am happy to say I am back to playing my Bhava Mini!
After some difficulty with UPS delivering the parcel, the harmonium arrived. It was incredibly well packaged, super secure and in it's awesome gigbag. It was 100% worth the wait. The sound from the instrument and the effortlessness of playing, pulling the air into the bellows with basically no effort, it's just so easy and it makes it just such a beautiful experience to play the instrument.
The sound is superb, it's loud and clear as day. I'm a guitarist and saxophonist and have little experience on piano though sitting with the harmonium, feeling the lightness of the keys and just working on chords is lovely. I can't wait to be able to play full pieces as I train my right hand technique to form chords the same way I can on guitar.
The assembling to play and folding back up into portable mode is relatively easy to grasp and I feel like I'll develop the same speed as Nic in no time at all, it's not a difficult process. Plus the fact it isn't too heavy and comes with the great gigbag, taking it to events won't really be a problem. Easier than lugging around my Les Paul in a hard case!
Incredible instrument and beautifully tuned, I'm thrilled with it and anyone looking for a harmonium, if you're reading this, it's absolutely worth choosing the ODM team. Contacting them by email has been so easy and they've answered all my queries, it's been great and I will 100% be back for a sitar in the future.