San Pedro Cholula

Region: Central Valleys
Church construction date: early 18th century (bell 1784)
Organ construction date: ca. 1720 - 1730
Organ builder: unknown
Last played: unknown
Organ classification: 2´ table (processional) organ
Tonal base: 4´ stopped flute (bardón)
Pitch: unknown
Case measurements: height 1.19 m, width 0.99 m, depth 0.53 m, height crest 0.33 m, height table 0.64 m, height from floor including table and crest 2.16 m
Keyboard: missing, but it had 45 notes C- c''' with a short octave, registers divided c'/c#'
Bellows: frames of two wedge bellows
Similar organs: Tlazoyaltepec (1724), Coixtlahuaca, Tamazulapan, Nuxiño, Ixtaltepec (1730)

The organ of San Pedro Cholula is one of a group of six 2´ table organs located in the Mixteca Alta region that are nearly identical in construction. This organ is the largest of the group with seven registers and includes a three-rank mixture of very small pipes, highly unusual for a 2´ organ. The table has preserved its original 18th-century decoration, although the case, which may have depicted religious figures as in the organ of the neighboring town of Tlazoyaltepec, appears to have been removed before it was repainted with red enamel in the 20th century. The current interior painting was applied after the organ was no longer in use, had no pipes, and seemed to serve as a decorative storage box. When the IOHIO discovered the organ in 2003 on the floor of the church, it was full of old papers. The bellows were being used in church repairs and the table was piled up with church decorations in the small choir loft. We assembled the organ in 2007. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Left hand: 21 notes C-c’ with a short octave
1. Mixtura III
2. Quincena 1/2´*
3. Docena 2/3´*
4. Octava 1´
5. Flautado 2´
6. Tambor
7. Bardón 4´

*breaks back, previous octave repeated

Right hand: 24 notes c#’-c’’’
1. Mixtura III
2. Quincena 1/2´*
3. Docena 1/3´*
4. Octava 1´*
5. Flautado 2´
6. Pajaritos
7. Bardón 4´

*breaks back, previous octave repeated