San Miguel Huautla

Region: Mixteca Alta
Church construction date: 17th century (Franciscan)
Organ construction date: ca. 1820 - 1840
Organ builder: unknown (Puebla)
Last played: around 1940?
Organ classification: 8´ stationary organ
Tonal base: 8´ principal
Pitch: a=392 Hz?
Case measurements (proposed): height 4.15 m, width upper case 2.35 m, depth 1.00 m
Keyboard: 49 notes C-c''', LH chromatic, registers divided c'/c#'
Bellows: missing
Similar organs: Teotitlán de Flores Magón (1839), Nuxáa (1809), Quilitongo

The organ of San Miguel Huautla is part of a group of four similar 8´ organs whose mechanics were built by Puebla organ builders but whose cases were built on-site with Oaxaca hips. Fragments of fine carvings attest to a former beautiful instrument, but it is now in pieces. Unfortunately, the frame is missing to be able to at least partially reconstruct it, but the upper case would most likely have been wider than the lower like the others in the group. The organ was dismantled and nearly all the loose pieces, minus the case to contain them, were preserved in a storeroom under the organ tribune. In 2023 the IOHIO spent two days undoing an imaginary reconstruction by a local carpenter and attaching what was possible to a simple façade frame made in the village. 

SPECIFICATIONS (proposed, based on the windchest)

Left hand: 25 notes C - c’
1. Clarín (Bajoncillo) 4´?
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Octava (clara) 4´
4. Octava (general) 4´
5. Quincena 2´
6. Docena 2 2/3´
7. Tapadillo 4´
8. Trompeta real 8´

Right hand: 24 notes c#’-c’’’
1. Clarín 8´
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Octava (clara) 4´
4. Octava 4´(general)
5. Quincena 2´
6. Docena 2 2/3´
7. Tapadillo 4´
8. Quincena 2° 2´