Santo Tomás Apóstal Ixtlán
Region: Sierra Norte Zapoteca
Church construction date: 1732-1757
Organ construction date: ca. 1800 - 1820
Organ builder: unknown
Last played: ca. 1950?
Organ classification: 8´ stationary organ
Tonal base: 8´ principal
Pitch: unknown
Case measurements: lower case height 2.13 m, width lower case 2.20 m, width lower case with hips 2.78 m, depth 1.12 m
Keyboard: missing, but it had 45 notes with a short octave, registers divided c'/c#'
Bellows: four leather wedge bellows located to the right of the organ
Similar organs: Tinú (1828), Yatzachi el Alto (1835), Ejutla, Tlaxiaco (1794)
This formerly grand neo-classic organ of Santo Tomás Apóstol Ixtlán and its splendid baroque church were financed by mining fortunes in the Sierra Norte. Sadly, only the lower case of the organ, the windchest, bellows, and loose pieces of decorative carving remain. The organ was surely preceded by a baroque-style instrument to blend with the art and architecture in the church. The IOHIO reattached the largest remaining carving to the left side of the organ to indicate the former richly carved upper case. Unfortunately, the framework no longer exists on which to hang the other carvings. The edges of the hips were also reattached to fill in the lower case.
SPECIFICATIONS (based on remnants of labels and the chest)
Left hand: 21 notes C-c’ with a short octave
1. Clarín 4´ (bajoncillo)
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Octava general 4´
4. Dozena nazarda 2 2/3´
5. Bardón 8´
6. Quincena 2´
7. Mixtura II
8. Trompeta real 8´
9. Tambor*
10. Pajaritos*
*unusual for an 8´ organ
Right hand: 24 notes c#'-c'''
1. Clarín 8´
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Octava general 4´
4. Docena (nazarda) 2 2/3´
5. Bardón 8´
6. Quincena 2´
7. Docena (clara) 2 2/3´
8. Quincena 2° 2´
9. Mixtura II