This article features the stamp of the organ from Tamazulapan, Oaxaca, Mexico from 2013. Organ stamps are fairly common and a great resource into their variety is the Pipe Organs of the World on Postage Stamps blog by Michael R. Barker. You can see other articles on this site about organs on stamps from Austria, France, Germany, and Belgium, among others.
This stamp is part of a set of six featuring historic organs of Oaxaca. The set actually is a tribute to the work of the IOHIO (Institute of Historic Organs in Oaxaca). This organization restores and preserves historic instruments in Oaxaca. Of particular interest to stamp collectors, the organization is housed in the Oaxaca Philatelic Museum (MUFI). This is the fourth article about the Oaxacan organ stamps. Read Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.
The stamps are the design of Sergio Barranca and M. Cristina Anguiano using the photographs of D. Hillbert. The range in price from 7 Mexican pesos to 13.50.
Oaxacan Organs, Scott Number MX 2858a-f
Oaxacan Organs
An excellent resource about the importance of Oaxacan organs (and these specifically) is this article by David Warren Steel that I highly recommend. I want to quote his opening paragraph to add some important description:
“The state of Oaxaca is one of the most culturally diverse in all Mexico; it is also one of the richest repositories of historic pipe organs in the New World: some 65 organs have been identified, nearly all in a distinctive regional style, with some instruments dating back to 1690 or earlier. While most are in various states of deterioration, and some are clearly endangered, seven have been restored in recent years to playing condition.“
Musically, the organs in Oaxaca are special and I will quote steel again:
“The musical resources of these organs are modeled on those of Spanish organs in the 17th century. Oaxacan organs have a single manual, and no pedal keyboard. The keyboard is recessed in a rectangular “window” in the case; up till around 1850, this consisted of 45 keys, or four octaves, from C to c”’ with short octave in the bass. The organ is divided between middle C and C-sharp: stops are drawn separately above and below this dividing point. In fact, on most Oaxacan organs, the selection of stops varies from treble to bass, with some stops available only in one hand. Pitch is low, around A=392 Hz.”
The Church
The congregation of the church of Tamazulapan dates to 1542 when a mission was first opened there. Several buildings would follow the simple mission. The current building dates from the eighteenth century. The beautiful facade is white with brown accents and folk reliefs.
A commission for a retablo, or altarpiece, went to the Spanish artist Andrés de la Concha in 1587. He also created art for other missions in Oaxaca. Four of the original paintings may survive in the altar piece of today. However, over the centuries, the altarpiece has grown into a spectacular artwork that covers the east wall of the church. It is has four tiers rising to the ceiling and seven divisions across the wall. It dominates the church. Learn more (and see the extraordinary altarpiece) here.
The Organ
The following information about the organ is from the IOHIO website. The historic organ in the church is a small chamber organ. The builder of this organ is unknown, but the instrument probably dates from the second half of the 1720s. It has a single manual keyboard with 45 notes. The organ is in the historic baroque pitch of a=392. The restoration of the organ was by Susan Tattershall and funded by J. P. Morgan.
DISPOSITION
Left hand: 21 notes C-c’ with a short octave
1.Quincena 1/2´ – Docena 2/3´*
2.Octava 1´
3.Flautado 2´
4.Tambor
5.Bardón 4´
Right hand: 24 notes c#’-c’’’
1.Octava 1´*
2.Flautado 2° 2´
3.Flautado 1° 2´
4.Pajaritos
5.Bardón 4
*breaks back
You can hear this organ in the following video:
