San Miguel Chicahua

Region: Mixteca Alta
Church construction date:
early 18th century, bell 1787
Organ construction date:
after 1802 (construction of the choir loft)
Organ builder:
unknown (probably from Puebla)
Last played:
1970s and later?
Organ classification:
8´ stationary organ
Tonal base:
8´ principal
Pitch:
a = 392 Hz
Case measurements:
height 3.48 m, width upper and lower case 1.93 m, depth 0.78 m
Keyboard:
45 notes C- c''' with a short octave, registers divided c’/c#’
Bellows:
two wedge bellows stored in the choir loft
Similar organs:
none

The organ of San Pedro Chicahua is an anomaly. It has the dimensions of a 4´ instrument with only four original registers, yet it is an 8´ instrument with a rank of right-hand horizontal trumpets added after the original construction to enrich the sound. The organ was too tall for the low choir loft, where the bellows are still located and was situated in a small tribune, proportional to the size of the church, which defined the dimensions of the organ. Rustically carved panels above the towers helped hide the largest pipes that protruded from the roof of the case.  The straight sides, metal tubing, and relative austerity of the case are characteristic of Puebla organ building. The case was varnished in the 20th century, which darkened the color and enhance the striated patterns in the painting. A tabletop square piano with a wooden lid sits on the floor in front of the organ; it appears to have been built in Puebla or elsewhere. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Left hand: 21 notes, C-c' with a short octave
1. Flautado mayor 8´
2. Octava 4´
3. Quincena 2´
4. Docena 2 2/3´

Right hand: 24 notes, c#'- c'''
1. Clarín 8´*
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Octava 4´
4. Quincena 2´
5. Docena 2 2/3´

*added later, drawstop inside the keydesk