Harmonista

Harmonista harmonium accessory invented 1873 by V. Gevaert of Ghent to enable persons unable to play a keyboard instr. to accompany plain chant. The device, in form of a rectangular box, was set on the keyboard. It contained 26 buttons; when depressed, each sounded a chord, the upper tone of which was that of the plain chant. Cf. chord organ (132). Mahillon, Victor. Catalogue descriptif et analytique du Musée Instrumental du Conservatoire de Bruxelles. 1893–1922.