Cariñena

Bartholomé Sanchez 1734

Although an organ has existed in Cariñena since the 15th century nothing more is known about the early history there.  When Bartholomé Sanchez of Zaragoza built his organ in 1734 he obviously used many pipes of previous 16th and 17th c. organs, the case, wind chests and key action were certainly made by Sanchez who also built organs in Calamocha in 1720 and in Albarrazín 1732.

All the wooden pipes are covered with paper from dissolved manuscripts and prints of the 16th and 17th centuries, internally placed in chromatic order. The quality of the older metal pipes is remarkable, many made of 100 % tin. The key action is made exceptionally simple with radial wires linking keys and pallets.
Repairs occured in 1782 and several times during the 19th and 20th centuries, but apparently without major changes. In 1997 the organ was restored by Claudio and Christine Rainolter, with 2 new bellows as well as a blower, and a reconstructed keyboard.