EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL
ORGAN AND EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
OAXACA, MEXICO

Celebrating the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence 1810
and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution 1910

October 21 – 27, 2010

The Oaxacan organs will sing with special brilliance this year as Mexico celebrates the two most significant events in its political history: the Independence and the Revolution. To honor the occasion, the IOHIO will present its grandest festival yet. For the first time, music lovers will be able to hear concerts on all seven restored organs, a unique opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of Oaxaca´s collection of baroque instruments. In addition we are offering three all-day field trips to visit 12 unrestored instruments in village churches, most of which are usually inaccessible to the public; two master classes with the eminent Swiss organist and musicologist, Guy Bovet; two concerts presenting choral works that have not been heard for centuries from the early 18th century notebook of Domingo Flores from San Bartolo Yautepec; the opportunity for organists to play some of the organs; guided tours of two archeological sites; a view of Oaxaca´s splendid and varied scenery during our field trips to the Tlacolula Valley and the Mixteca Alta; and a chance to sample the local cuisine and revel in the fiesta traditions in the villages.

Organ festivals worldwide usually focus solely on concerts, which may be presented on one or more organs located in the same general area. But because most of Oaxaca´s organs, both restored and unrestored, are scattered in villages all over the state, it is impossible to separate them from their cultural contexts and this of course enriches our festival. The word is spreading about the IOHIO Festivals and the number of participants grows every year, one of the lures being the personal rather than institutional flavor of the event. The Festival attracts not only professional organists but also organ builders, restorers, historians, writers, experts in Mexican art and history, teachers, and, not least, those who simply love music and Oaxaca.

The culture and landscape of Oaxaca enhances the Festival experience. The churches housing the organs have a rich history and physical beauty; the people in the villages are proud of both their heritage and cultural traditions and are eager to share them with Festival visitors. In villages that provide group meals, the entire community works together to welcome its guests, preparing a feast of typical dishes and often presenting local entertainment in their honor. Further, October is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Oaxaca. The landscape has a golden cast from the wild flowers for Day of the Dead (November 1 and 2), and their aroma is present everywhere. The air is clear, the sky deep blue, and the countryside still lush from the rainy season. Our Ninth Festival will be programmed in the spring of 2012, which will afford a different aspect of the Oaxaca environment. We strongly encourage you to join us this year for a truly unforgettable experience!

Please see the fee schedule and registration form below to sign up and send the form back to us as soon as possible. Payments will be accepted as of September 1 (not just yet please), and we will send payment instructions to you before that time as soon as all the permissions and confirmations are finalized. Potential participants who have never been to Oaxaca may want to read the section on “Travel Tips and Information about Oaxaca”, which follows the registration form.

Unrestored organs to be visited during the Festival

Oct. 21 Thursday
10:00 AM First organ master class in Tlacochahuaya with Guy Bovet*
2:30 PM Midday meal in Oaxaca (master class participants only)
5:00 PM Registration I (IOHIO office, Reforma 504)
8:00 PM First concert in La Basílica de la Soledad, José Francisco Álvarez, organ, Juan Carlos Murillo, trombone

Oct. 22 Friday
10:00 AM Second organ master class in Tlacochahuaya with Guy Bovet*
2:30 PM Midday meal in Oaxaca (master class participants only)
4:00 PM Registration II (IOHIO office, Reforma 504)
5:00 PM Inauguration Francisco de Burgoa Library, exhibit of music manuscripts
6:30 PM Reception in the Oaxaca Philatelic Museum (MUFI)
8:00 PM Second concert in the Capilla del Rosario, ex-convento de San Pablo, Capilla Virreinal de la Nueva España, director Aurelio Tello, “Music from the Domingo Flores Book (18th c.), San Bartolo Yautepec”

Oct. 23 Saturday
11:00 AM Third concert in Santa María de la Natividad Tamazulapan, participation of various organists and theater group
Lunch
1:30 PM Fourth concert in Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán, Capilla Virreinal de la Nueva España, director Aurelio Tello, “Sacred Music from the Domingo Flores Book, San Bartolo Yautepec” with Cristina García Banegas, organ
5:00 PM Dinner in San Andrés Zautla
7:00 PM Fifth concert in San Andrés Zautla, participation of various organists

Oct. 24 Sunday
9:30 AM Visits to unrestored organs in the Tlacolula Valley: San Matías Jalatlaco, Santa María Tlacolula (2 organs), San Dionisio Ocotepec, San Andrés Huayapam (snack en route)
3:00 PM Midday meal in Tlacochahuaya
Organists may play the organ before the concert
6:00 PM Sixth concert in San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, Guy Bovet, organ

Oct. 25 Monday
10:00 AM Guided tour of archeological site of Monte Albán (Marcus Winter, INAH) (optional),
OR
10:00 AM– 2:00 PM Organists may play the organ in La Soledad and the Cathedral
Lunch and dinner on your own
Free time in the afternoon
8:00 PM Seventh concert in the Oaxaca Cathedral, Cristina García Banegas, organ

Oct. 26 Tuesday
9:00 AM Departure for the Mixteca Alta for visits to unrestored organs in Santa María Tinú, San Mateo Yucucuí, Santa María Tiltepec
2:00 PM Midday meal in Tiltepec
6:00 PM Eighth concert in Santa María Tlaxiaco, Guy Bovet, organ
Dinner and overnight in Tlaxiaco

Oct. 27 Wednesday
9:00 AM Organists may play the organ
11:00 AM Visit to the archeological site of San Martín Huamelulpan (Marcus Winter, INAH)
Visits to the unrestored organs in San Pedro Yucuxaco and San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula, Santiago Tejupan, Santiago Teotongo,
3:00 PM Final midday meal in Teposcolula
Return to Oaxaca

*We have space for a few foreign professional organists in the master classes. If you are interested, please send your c.v. to the IOHIO.

FEES FOR THE FESTIVAL EVENTS

If you sign up for the complete package:
Foreigners $750 USD, Mexicans $6500 MN, Oaxacans and permanent foreign residents $6100 MN

Ticket prices for those who wish to attend only the concert on a given day will run between $100--$150 pesos (to be confirmed) and may be purchased at the door of the church just before the concert.

It has always been our policy to offer a special price for our field trips to Oaxacans and permanent Mexican and foreign residents in Oaxaca, since the historic organs are part of the local cultural heritage and it is very important that Oaxacans and non-Oaxacan residents be aware of them.

The exchange rate is presently around 13 pesos=1 USD. Foreigners may also pay in pesos and we accept euros, although the amount would be based on the conversion from the fee in US dollars.

REGISTRATION FOR THE FESTIVAL

To reserve a place in the Festival, please fill out the form below and click the RESERVE button.
You will receive payment instructions before September 1, 2010. Please submit a separate form for each participant even if you will be traveling together with identical itineraries.

TRAVEL TIPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT OAXACA

The IOHIO is a non-profit organization with a mission of documenting and protecting the historic organs in the State of Oaxaca. Its staff does not have the resources to provide assistance with travel arrangements to reach Oaxaca nor with hotel reservations (except for the one overnight excursion that is part of the Festival). Information is provided below to help prospective attendees better envision the Festival experience and to get started planning their visits.

Some facts about Oaxaca

The State of Oaxaca is in southern Mexico; its capital, the city of Oaxaca, is located in an extensive and culturally rich central valley that has an elevation of around 5,000 ft. As a result, the tropical climate is moderated considerably; October averages a high of 79 °F (26 °C) and a low of 56 °F (13 °C). There is little chance of rain in October, particularly by the end of the month.

The city of Oaxaca has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has many beautiful churches and buildings dating from colonial times, and a diverse cultural component is provided by the various indigenous groups that reside in the state. It is also known for the quality and variety of handicrafts produced in the area. As a result, tourism is one of the main industries in the state, and the population welcomes visitors with enthusiasm and courteousness. Many Oaxacans in the tourist industry speak several languages; English is usually one of them.

The Valley of Oaxaca had three branches; agriculture and handicrafts are the primary occupations of the villages throughout the valley. One of the tours in the Festival will visit the eastern branch, the Valley of Tlacolula. Two other tours will pass through the western valley on the way to the Mixteca Alta, a more mountainous region in the northwest of the state. Participants will have free time on several days to explore the city but should consider adding a couple of days to their visit if they want to explore further afield on their own.

Getting to Oaxaca

Most flights to the city of Oaxaca come from Mexico City, which has flights arriving from many major airports in the world. Currently Continental Airlines provides one flight every other day directly to Oaxaca from Houston, the return flight is on the alternate days. Your travel agent or favorite travel website can help you find the best itinerary.

Travel Tip: When you arrive at the Oaxaca airport, take the airport transport to your hotel (costs around $4.00 USD)

Do I Need a Passport and Visa for Mexico?

All U.S. citizens must have a passport book (not the new passport card) to enter Mexico and return to the United States by air. At this time a visa is not needed in advance; each visitor is issued a tourist card upon arrival in Mexico, which must be turned in when he or she leaves. Citizens of other countries should consult the appropriate authorities in their country and/or the Mexican Embassy.

Travel Tip: Carry a copy of your passport with you and leave your original in your hotel.

Transportation during the Festival

Whenever transportation is included in the Festival fees, participants will be taken to the event in comfortable, air-conditioned buses or vans (as appropriate to the terrain) driven by professional drivers. The historical center of the city is small and quite “walkable” and taxis are inexpensive, so participants can easily reach the Festival activities held in the city on their own.

What clothing should I bring?

The weather will be warm and sunny at midday and cool in the evenings. It may be especially chilly in some of the churches, so bring layers of clothing. Please, remember that you will be visiting functioning churches in traditional communities; shorts on either men or women or revealing tops on women would give offense. In fact, shorts are not worn in the city except, perhaps, around the pool/bar in hotels.

Bring a pair of sturdy walking shoes for the visits to the archaeological sites and if you expect to do a lot of walking in the city (the stone sidewalks are sometimes rough and can make feet sore). Bring sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat (or buy one in the market) for the sun, which is very direct compared to that in North America and Europe, even in October.

Travel Tips: Health Issues

Do not drink the water. Don’t drink anything that is not from a sealed bottle anywhere in Oaxaca. Even use it to brush your teeth. Mexican citizens drink bottled water, too, because the local supply is unsafe. Restaurants and hotels provide bottled water, and it is easily purchased at little shops or pharmacies.

The food is safe, but…If you have a delicate stomach, ask your doctor about acidophilus or something similar to reinforce your intestinal flora. Oaxaca restaurants try to be very careful—after all, they depend on tourism—but nevertheless, you will be in a different ecological zone.

Altitude and mountains. Our field trips will take us on curvy mountainous roads, so if you are prone to car sickness, you can bring Dramamine or buy it here. The altitude here is approximately a mile high, like Denver, and we’ll be going up higher on our field trips, so please take this into account.

How about credit cards and getting pesos?

Credit cards are welcome in all the major tourist hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, smaller venues will want pesos. The best way to get Mexican pesos is through an ATM machine, which are plentiful in the city. Traveler’s checks are no longer used by many people, and many places will not accept them because of banking rules that penalize the merchant. U.S. dollars are also a problem for locals; please tip (10%) in Mexican pesos

Travel Tip: If you have a Citibank card, you pay no fee at the Banamex ATM and the same is true of Bank of America and Santander.

Travel Tip: Make sure your bank knows you will be out of the country so they don’t suspect fraud and deactivate your cash card when you start taking out money. Also alert your credit card companies.

HOTELS RECOMMENDED IN OAXACA

*These hotels have provided courtesy rooms for our Festival artists.

We recommend that you make your reservations soon, because the Festival takes place during peak tourist season. The conversion rate of pesos to dollars is now approximately 13 pesos to 1 dollar, but since it varies, you will need to confirm this when you make your reservations. The hotels listed above include a range of prices. You can also search online.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION PACK

All the details on this page can be easily downloaded and printed for future reference,
by clicking on this printer-friendly PDF file: Festival Information Pack (PDF, 20MB)