Conservation of the Unrestored Organs

The IOHIO has made hundreds of field trips to conserve the 61 unrestored organs in the state.
During our early years of work starting in 2000, there were few functioning telephones and paved roads, so we often just drove to the villages and hoped for the best. With luck we could see the organ, but sometimes the person with the key to the choir loft was working in his field and not due back until sundown.

Twenty years later our visits are easy to arrange because of improved roads and communication, but we never go without an appointment. Our activities are validated by letters of support from the director of the Centro INAH Oaxaca and from the Archbishop of Oaxaca in order to gain access to the church. (See Location Maps).

OUR WORK PLAN

Explain to the authorities who we are and why we are there.
This may be a formal meeting with the local authorities. After distributing our brochures and a photo of the organ, we stress that their organ represents a link to the history of their church and their community, as well as to their ancestors who financed the organ’s construction. Above all, we congratulate them for preserving it.

In Santa María Alotepec (left), Cicely presents our work plan to the Council of Elders. The president (standing) translated her words into Mixe for those who did not speak Spanish.

We were asked to formally explain ourselves to the authorities in San Miguel Chicahua.

The women of Chicahua were also present.

Return the organ to the church if it has been moved elsewhere during a roof repair or the construction of of a new choir loft.

Clean the choir loft or tribune where the organ is situated.
The choir loft is invariably used as a storage area for church-related objects: candles, vases, papers, non-functioning light fixtures or sound equipment; trunks full of old vestments and costumes; old wooden furniture including confessionals, benches, and pieces of former altarpieces; and processional tables and big paper maché dolls still in use.

Santiago Tlazoyaltepec

San Melchor Betaza: note the bellows under the box of Christmas lights.

Include the local people in our activities.
At least one representative of the municipal government or the church committee accompanies us, in addition to curious men, women, and children, most of whom have never been up to the choir loft or seen the organ up close. They often pitch in to help by sweeping, carrying buckets of water up and down the stairs, and removing useless objects from the organ area. We ask them about their church and how often mass is celebrated and their community traditions. They in turn want to know if the organ can be repaired, how much it would cost, and how it could be financed. The real proof of our commitment is when they see us working hard and getting dirty in the process.

Clean out the organ case.
It may have objects related to the organ (pieces of moldings, carved decorations, small bent pipes) or not (candles, papers, flower pots), as well as rat’s nests, bat guano, and detritus from birds and other animals. If a bird falls into one of the large open pipes, it is doomed. We have found more than one rat’s nest.

Clean the organ and its components.
The case and bellows are dusted off with brushes or vacuumed. Smaller components are removed if necessary, brushed off, and cleaned with white gasoline.

Straighten bent pipes whenever feasible and stand them up with proper support in the façade.
This is the safest way to preserve them and helps the community imagine that this big piece of furniture was once an organ. Large pipes which are too bent or deformed to straighten, usually because of a high lead content, are stored horizontally inside the case. Very small or damaged pipes, carved decorations which can’t be reattached, or other stray components are stored in labeled boxes inside the organ case for safekeeping.

Straightening a bent pipe.

The process of straightening a bent pipe (note the harmonium)

Analyze and attach loose carvings.

Photograph the organ and its components.

Fumigate the unrestored organs for woodworm by injecting or saturating the affected areas.

Reassemble the organ and the bellows.

Reposition the pipes in the façade; check the pitch.

Document old band instruments, imported from France as early as the 1860s.

Santa María Pápalo

The end of a day’s work in Santiago Comaltepec

Photograph the pages of music manuscripts, share them with musicologists, and give a digital copy to the community.

Present a more attractive and dignified organ to the community at the end of our work day.
Sometimes the change may be dramatic, and the people are amazed by the transformation of the organ and the idea that this organ was once played regularly in their church.

ORGANS BEFORE AND AFTER CONSERVATION WORK

Santa María de la Natividad Ejutla

San Miguel Ahuehuetitlan

San Miguel Huautla: A local carpenter had put together pieces of the disassembled organ (not knowing that it was an organ or what that implied). We instructed him how to make a proper lower frame in order to support the hips, wind chest, and central tower. The pueblo was thrilled by the more grandiose look, and we left photographs of similar more complete organs as a reference. Nearly all the (deteriorated) pipes, keyboard, and more exist, but various support structures would have to be built for them.