Las Piñas Bamboo Organ

**Hyeronimus** · 05/04/2010

Las Piñas Bamboo Organ

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Coordinates:

14°28′52″N 120°58′53″E / 14.4811086°N 120.9814979°E / 14.4811086; 120.9814979

The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ.

The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, in the Parish Church of St Joseph in Las Piñas City, Philippines, is a nineteenth-century church organ made almost entirely from bamboo: only the trumpet stops are made from metal.
The organ, the church and the surrounding buildings have been restored to their 19th century state by Architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa and partner Ludwig Alvarez, making a trip to the site a popular excursion for Filipinos and foreign visitors alike.
The builder of both the church and its organ was Fr. Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen, a priest under the Augustinian Recollects. A native of Spain, he served as parish priest in Las Piñas through many endeavors. Historians portray him as a gifted man-natural scientist, chemist, architect, community leader, organist and organ builder.
Having previously built organs in Manila area with some organ stops made of bamboo he chose bamboo for most of this organ, and only the trumpet stops are made of metal. The choice of bamboo was probably both practical and aesthetic - bamboo was abundant and used for hundreds of items, both a practical and an artistic nature.
Fr. Cera began work on the organ in 1816, while the church was still under construction, and the organ was completed in 1824. During Fr. Cera's lifetime, disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons damaged both church and organ and Fr. Cera himself was the organ's first "restorer." Down through the years, natural disasters continued to take their toll; the organ was unplayable for years. Somewhat unexpectedly reassembled early in the 20th century, partial restoration took place from time to time up through World War II.
In recent years, several concerted attempts were made to save the instrument. In 1972, a contract for total restoration was awarded to Johannes Klais Orgelbau KG in Bonn, Germany, and it was shipped there in 1973. While the restoration of the organ was taking place in Germany, a massive project was completed at the church. With the help of the community of Las Piñas and many others in the Manila area, the church grounds were restored to its original state.
The restored organ returned home in March 1975, to a joyous welcome by the people of the Philippines. The joint restoration of church and the organ was a triumph of local and international cooperation. Since then the scene of many concerts and festivals, the Bamboo Organ is described by many international organ masters as one of the finest old organs in the world.[citation needed] Its construction of bamboo is noted as being one of the major factors that gives it a truly unique and lively sound.
The National Museum of the Philippines officially declared the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ a 'National Cultural Treasure' on November 24, 2003 for its uniqueness and significance.
To retain a high standard of quality and reliability, the Bamboo Organ underwent a general overhaul from September, 2003 to November, 2004. This time, the work was done locally by Europe-trained organbuilders of the Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc. who are also tasked to maintain the instrument so that future generations will be assured of hearing and experiencing the unique sound of a Philippine treasure.
From 1992 until present, Prof. Armando Salarza is the Titular Organist of the Bamboo Organ. Currently, he is also the Artistic Director of the International Bamboo Organ Festival. The 34th International Bamboo Organ Festival was held last February 2009 and is considered to be the longest-running International Festival in the Philippines.
The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque. Its present parish priest is Rev. Msgr. Albert Venus. Msgr. Allen Aganon, parish priest from 1999 to 2004, is currently serving his missionary work in Peru.

Las Piñas Bamboo Organ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Hyeronimus** · 05/04/2010

**Hyeronimus** · 05/04/2010

Location

The Bamboo Organ, housed at St. Joseph Parish Church, Las Piñas City is located some 10 kms., south of the center of Manila in the Philippines. It is only 10 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). If you are in Manila and riding a taxi, just ask for "the Bamboo Organ" and the driver will bring you to your destination in Las Pinas City.

Diego Cerra The Organ Builder

The Bamboo Organ is known as the only pipe organ in the world, whose pipes are made of bamboo. The genius who adapted this European instrument to the Filipino climate and using the native material, was a Spanish missionary from Graus (Huesca, Spain), FRAY DIEGO CERA DELA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN ( 1762-1834 ). He was the first parish priest in Las Pñas and lived here between 1795 and 1830.

The Church

The church, made of adobe (volcanic) stones, was constructed between 1797 and 1819. It was built in the so called "earthquake" baroque architectural style.
With the help of the Las Pñas community and the neighboring area, the church and the grounds were returned to its original state. The renovation was effectively carried out through the expertise of Architecs Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa & Ludwig Alvarez between 1971 and 1975.

Adjacent to the church, on the right side when facing the front, used to be the old Spanish Convention,which now serves as entrance for a visit and clearer view of the bamboo organ.

The unique and historic instrument is rightly called "the only Bamboo Organ in the World" since most of its pipes are made of bamboo. The total number of pipes is 1,031; 902 are made of bamboo and the remaining pipes are made of metal. It took Fr. Diego Cera 8 years to finish the organ (1816 - 1824 ). A typhoon followed by an earthquake destroyed the roof of the church in 1880's so that stones and water fell inside the organ case which made it unplayable for several years. The pipes were kept in the old sacristy until 1917 when tourists rediscovered its unique allure. Several concerted attempts were made to save the instrument. In 1972, a contract for total restoration was awarded to Johannes Klais Orgelbau in Bonn, Germany where the organ was shipped in 1973. The restored organ returned home March 1975 to a joyous welcome by the Filipino people. Since then, a yearly festival is held in February attracting both local and international tourist and music enthusiasts.

Short History of the Bamboo Organ

1816 - Cutting of the bamboo and selection of wood
1821 - Completion of the Bamboo Organ, except for the reed stops.
1824 - Completion adding of the 122 horizontal reed pipes.
1880 - Bamboo Organ and Church severely damaged by three earthquakes. The Bamboo Organ was dis-assembled and the pipes were placed in the old sacristy.
1882 - A typhoon blows up the roof, the chest of the Bamboo Organ suffers additional damages.
1888 - The church was rebuilt. However, the Bamboo Organ remains unplayable for the next decades.
1911 -The Bamboo Organ was rediscovered by tourist.
1917 - Only two stops of the Bamboo Organ were repaired.
1932 - An electric motor was installed to supply the wind.
1943 - Partial repairs were made.
1961 - Another partial repair made.
1972 - Award of the contract for restoration of the Bamboo Organ to Johannes Klais Orgelbau KG in Bonn, Germany.
1973 - June 29, The complete Bamboo Organ was shipped to Bonn Germany.
1975 - Feb 17,The restored Bamboo Organ was played again for the first time at the Klais factory in Bonn, Germany.
1975 - March 13, The complete Bamboo Organ was flown back to the Philippines via Sabena Airlines.
1975 - May 9, Inaugural concert of the Bamboo Organ by Wolfgang Oehms/Trier, Germany.

BAMBOOMAN.COM: Bamboo Organ of Las Pinas- The Only Bamboo Organ in the World.