Santo Domingo Tepelmeme
Region: Mixteca Alta
Church construction date: 1760s
Organ construction date: 1891
Organ builder: Miguel Gregorio y Ponciano Castro (Puebla)
Last played: rarely
Organ classification: 4´ stationary organ
Tonal base: 8´ stopped flute (bardón)
Pitch: a=440 Hz
Case measurements: height 3.10 m, width 1.86 m, depth 0.80
Keyboard: 54 notes C- f''', LH chromatic, registers divided c'/c#'
Bellows: reservoir bellows located behind the organ
Similar organs: San Juan Ihualtepec (1852), San Miguel Ahuehuetitlan ca. 1852, Santiago Tamazola (1885), Zapotitlan Lagunas (ca. 1885)
Repaired: 2018 by Juan Moisés Orozco Santillán. The project was financed by the mayordomo of Tepelmeme for the saint’s day celebration.
The organ of Santo Domingo Tepelmeme is the latest and most decorated of all the organs in Oaxaca built by by the Castro Organbuilding Company in Puebla. It shows typical characteristics of Castro organs including a curved upper profile over the flat towers, straight sides, symmetrical perforations on the sides and back to enhance the acoustics, and rectangular relief panels on the lower case. During the repair project, the organ was repositioned in the center of the choir loft. The analysis of the organ is speculative and has been aided by some previous photos, since the IOHIO has unfortunately not been permitted access to the choir loft for several years.
SPECIFICATIONS (based on the register knobs, not the windchest)
Left hand: 25 notes C-c’’’
1. Veintidocena 1/2´
2. Quincena clara 1´
3. Nazardo
4. Quincena 1´
5. Flautado bardón 8´
6. Octava mayor 4´
Right hand: 29 notes, c#’- f’’’
1. Trompetas 8´ (interior)
2. Quincena 1´
3. Flautado bardón 8´
4. Octava brillante 2´
5. Flautado mayor 4´
6. Lleno (corneta clara V)