Organ Classification and Chronology
Approximate dates of an organ’s construction may be extrapolated from similar organs with confirmed dates; unusual construction or decorative details; dates on the interior or exterior of the church, its furnishings, or the choir loft; or archive references and inventories. Confirmed construction dates are based on paper labels stuck inside the case; names or dates written inside the case or on an inner component; or by a contract or specific archive reference.
* Restored, reconstructed or repaired
1 Decorated case
2 Faces (grotescas, mascarones) painted on the façade pipes
3 Maltese or square (Dominican influence) or rectangular (Franciscan influence from Puebla) cross on the first pipe, roller, or pallet of a series
4 Organ first reported by the IOHIO
5 Organ previously reported; documented by the IOHIO
6 Organ previously documented; date discovered by the IOHIO
7 Organ in pieces or only a few parts remain (windchest, pipes, bellows, keys, etc.)
8 Organ constructed in Puebla or elsewhere or by a Puebla builder in Oaxaca
Baroque aesthetic with strong influence of the Dominican order in Oaxaca until around 1750. Cases of some early organs are profusely decorated, often with religious imagery or symbols. Most keyboards had 45 notes with a short octave, although some were modified later.
FIRST STAGE: 1700 – 1791
Name of church
Keyboard compass (original/current)
LARGE DIMENSIONS — 8´ ORGANS
45/47
45
45/47
45
45
45
45
Central Valleys (City)
Central Valleys (City)
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Papaloapam (Chinantec)
1712 (6)
1719 (1,6)
ca.1710-1725 (1,2)
ca.1730-1760 (3)
1743 (3,6)
ca.1740-1750
ca.1780-1800 (3,4)
Date of construction (confirmed or approximate)
Region
MEDIUM DIMENSIONS — 4´ STATIONARY ORGANS
45
45
45
45
45
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
Central Valleys
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
1703 (1,6)
1721 (1,6)
ca.1720-1750 (4)
before 1735 (1,2,3)
1776 (1,6)
MEDIUM DIMENSIONS — 4´ TABLE ORGANS
45
45
45
45
45
42/45
45
Central Valleys
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Isthmus (Zapotec)
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
1726 (1,2,3,6)
1729 (1,2,3,4)
1740 (3,6)
1745 (1,2,3,4)
1750-1780 (1,3,4)
ca.1750-1780 (4,8)
1772 (3,6)
SMALL DIMENSIONS — 2´ TABLE ORGANS
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
42
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
ca.1700 (1,3,4)
1724 (1,3,4)
1730 (1,3)
ca.1720-1730 (1)
ca.1720-1730 (1)
ca.1720-1730 (1,4)
ca.1720-1730 (1,4)
ca.1750 (8)
SECOND STAGE: 1792 – 1839
Transition between the baroque and neoclassical aesthetic. Secularization of the parishes and diminished influence of the religious orders in New Spain. With few exceptions, organ cases are no longer decorated with religious imagery; they usually have a natural finish or are painted in quiet tones, often after the original construction.
Name of church
Keyboard compass (original/current)
Date of construction (confirmed or approximate)
Region
LARGE DIMENSIONS — 8´ ORGANS
45
47
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
47
?
45
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Norte (Chinantec)
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Norte Zapoteca
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Sur Zapoteca
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Norte Zapoteca
Sierra Norte Zapoteca
Sierra Norte Zapoteca
1792 (2,3,6)
1794? (6)
ca.1800 (4)
ca.1802-1840 (8)
ca.1800-1820
ca.1800-1840
ca.1800-1840 (5)
ca.1800-1840 (4)
1800-1840 (3,4,8)
1800-1840 (4,7)
1835
ca.1830-1850 (4,7)
ca.1835 (4)
MEDIUM DIMENSIONS — 4´ STATIONARY ORGANS
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Cañada (Cuicatec)
Sierra Sur Zapoteca
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Norte Zapoteca
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Sierra Sur Zapoteca
Isthmus (Zapoteca)
Sierra Sur Zapoteca
Mixteca Alta
1791
ca. 1800 (3)
ca.1800 (1,2,8)
ca.1800 (3,4,7,8)
before 1803 (5)
1809 (3,6,8)
1816 (6)
1821?
1828 (6)
ca.1800-1840 (4)
ca.1800-1840 (4)
ca.1800-1840 (4,7)
ca.1800-1840 (4,7)
MEDIUM DIMENSIONS — 4´ TABLE ORGANS
51
45
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
1802 (6,8)
ca.1800 (5)
THIRD STAGE: 1840 – 1891
Keyboards are extended with up to 56 notes arranged chromatically; the short octave is eliminated.
Increased influence of Puebla construction techniques.
Keyboard compass (original/current)
Name of church
Date of construction (confirmed or approximate)
Region
LARGE DIMENSIONS — 8´ ORGANS
49
49
54
55
56
56
56
56
54
56
Cañada (Mazatec)
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
Central Valleys (City)
Isthmus (Zapotec)
Sierra Norte Mixe
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
Mixteca Alta
Central Valleys
1839 (3,6,8)
ca.1839 (7,8)
1840 (6)
1845 (6)
1866 (6)
1864 (6)
ca.1860-1880 (4)
1860-1880 (4,7)
ca.1860-1880
1876
1884 (6)
MEDIUM DIMENSIONS — 4´ STATIONARY ORGANS
54
53
53
54
54
54
ca. 1850 (4,8)
1852 (5,8)
ca.1852 (5,8)
ca. 1885/1888 (5,8)
1885/1888 (5,8)
1891 (8)
Mixteca Alta
Mixteca Baja
Mixteca Baja
Mixteca Baja
Mixteca Baja
Mixteca Alta
TWENTIETH-CENTURY ORGANS (IMPORTED FROM GERMANY)
Builder
Name of church
Date of construction (confirmed or approximate)
Region
Carmen Bajo
Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio
Walcker (8´)
Schlag & Söhne (4´)
Central Valleys (City)
Central Valleys (City)
1907-1908
ca. 1900