The Restoration of the Historic Pipe Organ in the Church of Santa María de la Asunción Tlacolula, Oaxaca
After restoration
Before restoration
About the Organ
Construction date: 1791, gilding and tuning 1792
Organ builder: Manuel Neri y Carmona (Oaxaca)
Characteristics: 8´stationary organ with eight registers on the left side and seven on the right; 45 note keyboard divided c’/c#’; 336 flue, reed, and wooden pipes; restored pitch 415 Hz height 4.36 m, width 3.25 m, depth 0.86 m.
Disposition
Left hand: 21 notes C-c’ with a short octave
1. Clarines (Bajoncillo) 4´
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Bardón 8´
4. Octava 4´
5. Quincena 2´
6. Diecinovena 1 1/3´
7. Veintidocena 1´
8. Trompeta real 8´
Right hand: 24 notes c#’-c’’’
1. Clarines 8´
2. Flautado mayor 8´
3. Bardón 8´
4. Octava 1° 4´
5. Quincena 1° 2´
6. Octava 2° 4´
7. Quincena 2° 2´
Phase One: Restoration of the Case and Painted Façade Pipes
December 2012 – 2013

Removing the organ pipes

Fumigating the case

Storing and protecting the largest pipes

Cleaning the faҫade pipes

Cleaning the case

Consolidating the paint

The paint is consolidated on the left side

Decorative moldings before and after

Copying a missing carving

Applying gold leaf to the new piece

Organ case before restoration

Organ case after restoration

The restored façade pipes
Phase Two: Restoration of the Organ’s Mechanism and Sound
October 2013 – February 2014

The restoration shop was set up in the choir loft of the Tlacolula church


The priest, padre Salvador Cruz (right), viewing the work in process

Preparing and gluing the leather

Assembling the bellows

The first bellows is finished

Restored wind trunk

Preparing the pipes for extensions

Cutting pieces for extensions

Soldering the pipe extensions

Pipes with added extensions

Cleaning the base of the wind chest

Restoring the channel board

Pallets ready to be installed

Pallets installed

Assembling new pieces of the roller board

Roller board restored

New leather hinges for the keyboard

Positioning the keys in the key bed

The finished organ
Official Report
Restoration of the case and façade pipes: Usanza company, Eric González Castellanos (Oaxaca), director
Restoration of the organ’s mechanism and sound: Gerhard Grenzing organ company (El Papiol, Spain), Andreas Fuchs project director
Project initiative and organization: Instituto de Órganos Históricos de Oaxaca (IOHIO), Cicely Winter, director
Financing: Fundación Alfredo Harp Helú Oaxaca (FAHHO), Marciano Sánchez (from Tlacolula), the Pro-Organ Committee of Tlacolula, and the IOHIO.
Ecclesiastical support: Salvador Cruz Sánchez, the priest of the Tlacolula church
Institutional authorization and overview: Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (CNCPC) del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historía (INAH)
Main challenges: repair the woodworm damage of the case and interior components; replace missing pipes; add extensions to the pipes to recover the historic tuning of 415 Hz, since all had been cut to raise the pitch to 440 Hz.
Reinauguration: February 23, 2014, with a mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Oaxaca-Antequera and an organ and voice concert presented by Roberto Fresco, Lourdes Ambriz, and Rafael Cárdenas as part of the IOHIO’s Tenth International Organ and Early Music Festival.
Ongoing activity: The organ is played regularly for masses (including weddings, baptisms, quinceaños, and special religious festivities), and concerts. It is maintained by the IOHIO.