Organ at San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, Mexico

with slideshow, interviews, restored organs of Oaxaca and more! This week we expand our sense of music’s North American history when we visit the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to hear pipe organs from the 17th and 18th centuries. While we were barely ‘the colonies’ up north, Mexican natives directed by Spanish artisans practiced the art of organbuilding as early as fifty years following the landing of Columbus. With a refreshing and colorful spirit, instruments in the village of Tlacochahuaya, La Soledad Basilica and the Oaxaca Cathedral illuminate the stories of organists Elisa Freixo, Cristina Garcia Banegas and Roberto Fresco. This is a precious heritage, deserving our careful attention and enthusiastic support. Join us south of the border for a Oaxacan Holiday.

Come along as we explore composers for the organ and historic instruments from Mexico.

…a summary salute to the memory of several composers who reached significant milestones in the first half of this year.

…a spring survey of some recent CD releases from American producers in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

…focusing on Robert Bates’ new recording of Correa’s Facultad Organica (1626).

A return visit with historian and organbuilder Susan Tattershall, who documents some of the many remarkable antique instruments “south of the border.”