Harmonium (Portable reed organ of India)

[murathan]

The Indian harmonium, hand harmonium, samvadini, peti ("box"), or baja, often just called a harmonium, is a small and portable hand-pumped reed organ which is very popular in the Indian subcontinent. The sound resembles an accordion or other bellows driven free-reed aerophones.

Reed-organs arrived in India during the mid-19th century, possibly with missionaries or traders. Over time they were modified by Indian craftsmen to be played on the floor (since most traditional Indian music is done in this fashion), and to be smaller and more portable...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_harmonium

 

[Rosie C]

There was one played at our folk club just last week!

 

[murathan]

There was one played at our folk club just last week!

A kind of melodica we can say, sound suits well with medieval or indian music...

 

[Rosie C]

A kind of melodica we can say, sound suits well with medieval or indian music...

I agree about the medieval music - anything with a 'buzz' like hurdy-gurdy, shawm, etc. and I use piano accordion for that effect.
For melodica, I live in the "Welsh valleys", where I think they are more associated with religious music in small chapels.