The Pipe Organ was introduced to Mexico by the colonizing espanish friars in the XVI c. The instrument cought the attention of the native population and became the most played by the native musicians. Soon the locals, began to built their own instruments to create what is called now, the Novo-Hispano Organ Style. Both, the Spanish and the Mexican Pipe Organ Traditions retrofed each other throughout the centuries. Mexico has a wonderful Pipe Organ legacy in many examples around the country.
One of the 2 Monumental Organs built for Mexico City's Cathedral. The oldest, is the "Organo de la Epistola" (in the video) built in 1695 in Spain in the workshops of Jorge De Sesma and installed by Tiburcio Sanz. It wa said to be a gift by the King, but actually paid by the Mexican diosecis. Made of White Cedar and a sound box of more than 3,350 pipes. Gilded cherubs playing instruments decorates the front. It's Monumental "reja" metal door is made of 'oricalco', an alloy of gold and copper.
Mexico City's Cathedral is in the process of having a Third Monumental Organ built for the use of 'modern' partitures. The two original ones were built to play the registers of the time (XVII and XVIII C). It will be built in Spain by Gerhard Grenzing with an estimated cost of more than 1,000,000.00 Euros, and a lot more for the assembling and instalation. It promises to fill the acustic space of the inmense Cathedral's Nave, with it's more than 300 ft. of lenght and more than 150 ft. of hight.
The construction of Mexican Pipe Organs declined with the introduction of the German Pneumatic Organs and later on with the Electronic ones. Pipe organs were still being built in Mexico until the beginning of the XX century. Many of the Historical Mexican Pipe Organs have been included within the catalogs listed by the UNESCO as WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENTS. A Historical Legacy to Honor, Preserve and Enjoy.
The 2nd. one, "El Organo del Evangelio", with it's almost 35 ft. in hight, 28 ft. wide and 12 ft, deep, it's considered one of the largest in the world. It was built in 1735 in Mexico ( in situ ) by Novo-Hispanos masters. Built in four levels and more than 3350 bronce pipes. Severely damaged by the fire of 1967. Currently being restaured to bring back it's original glory. Gerhard Grenzing is encharded to restor it's musical structure and the artistic by Jose Roberto Ramirez Vega.
The Pipe Organ was introduced to Mexico by the colonizing espanish friars in the XVI c. The instrument cought the attention of the native population and became the most played by the native musicians. Soon the locals, began to built their own instruments to create what is called now, the Novo-Hispano Organ Style. Both, the Spanish and the Mexican Pipe Organ Traditions retrofed each other throughout the centuries.
Mexico has a wonderful Pipe Organ legacy in many examples around the country.
One of the 2 Monumental Organs built for Mexico City's Cathedral. The oldest, is the "Organo de la Epistola" (in the video) built in 1695 in Spain in the workshops of Jorge De Sesma and installed by Tiburcio Sanz. It wa said to be a gift by the King, but actually paid by the Mexican diosecis.
Made of White Cedar and a sound box of more than 3,350 pipes. Gilded cherubs playing instruments decorates the front. It's Monumental "reja" metal door is made of 'oricalco', an alloy of gold and copper.
Mexico City's Cathedral is in the process of having a Third Monumental Organ built for the use of 'modern' partitures. The two original ones were built to play the registers of the time (XVII and XVIII C). It will be built in Spain by Gerhard Grenzing with an estimated cost of more than 1,000,000.00 Euros, and a lot more for the assembling and instalation.
It promises to fill the acustic space of the inmense Cathedral's Nave, with it's more than 300 ft. of lenght and more than 150 ft. of hight.
The construction of Mexican Pipe Organs declined with the introduction of the German Pneumatic Organs and later on with the Electronic ones.
Pipe organs were still being built in Mexico until the beginning of the XX century.
Many of the Historical Mexican Pipe Organs have been included within the catalogs listed by the UNESCO as WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENTS.
A Historical Legacy to Honor, Preserve and Enjoy.
The 2nd. one, "El Organo del Evangelio", with it's almost 35 ft. in hight, 28 ft. wide and 12 ft, deep, it's considered one of the largest in the world. It was built in 1735 in Mexico ( in situ ) by Novo-Hispanos masters. Built in four levels and more than 3350 bronce pipes.
Severely damaged by the fire of 1967. Currently being restaured to bring back it's original glory. Gerhard Grenzing is encharded to restor it's musical structure and the artistic by Jose Roberto Ramirez Vega.