11th International Festival of Organ and Early Music starts February 18th, 2016

The Instituto de Organos Historicos de Oaxaca (iohio.org.mx) is hosting its 11th International Festival of Organ and Early Music, in Oaxaca, starting February 18th.

Courtyard of the Santo Domingo

Cultural Center, where the

inauguration of the Festival will

take place

 

Beautiful courtyard at the headquarters of

the organizers of the Festival: IOHIO

 

Liuwe Tamminga will open up the program next Thursday, playing on a 200 + year old organ in the Cathedral of Oaxaca, with Bruce Dickey on the cornetto.

 

Organ at Cathedral of Oaxaca

 

IOHIO is a non-profit organization, dedicated to restoring dilapidated organs in churches throughout the State of Oaxaca, that were built by local artisans and musicians during the waning years of the 17th century and the 18th century. During this festival, restored organs will be played not only at the

• Cathedral of Oaxaca, but at the
• Basilica de la Soledad, in Oaxaca, and in the Alta Mixteca region at
• Santa Maria Natividad, in Tamazulapan, as well as in nearby
• Santo Domingo, Yanhuiitlan, and on the road back to Oaxaca City, at
• San Andres Zautla, and on Sunday, on the road towards the archeological sites of Mitla, at
• San Jeronimo, in Tlacochahuaya, and
• Santa Maria in Tlacolula on Sunday evening.

IOHIO will offer a two day (Monday and Tuesday) road trip back up to the Alta Mixteca region, with an organ concert at the beautiful church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion, in Tlaxiaco.

 

These churches are all along the Ruta de los Dominicos (Route of the Dominican Friars), which were part of a network of over 100 churches built mostly during the 16th and 17th centuries. The President of IOHIO, Cicely Winter, pointed out that music, specifically musica sacra, and therefore organ music, was an essential element of the Dominican Fathers' Missionary work in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca during the 17th and 18th centuries. Cicely is herself an accomplished organist, and will delight us during the second concert, with her performance at the Basilica de la Soledad, in Oaxaca. Cicely is one of the founding members of IOHIO, having received support from the Alfredo Harp Foundation. 

 

The participants of the Festival will receive on the last day of the Festival: a personal tour by Dr. Marcus Winter of the Monte Alban archaeological site. Marcus Winter is a living legend in his field, the greatest expert on the Zapoteca Civilizations.

 

Tomorrow, Monday, February 8th, is the last day to register to assist. If you can make it, send a mail to iohio@iohio.org.mx, or register on their site, www.iohio.org.mx

 

If you cannot assist, follow our coverage of the Festival in this blog starting February 18th.