The Tibães Pipe Organ and its context of production

Abstract

In 1984, W.D. Jordan published the identity of the Masters in charge of the large 1785-pipe organ installed in the church of the Tibães Monastery – the organ builder, the carver and the assembler responsible for the case –, including the amount they were paid for their work. However, very little was said in terms of logistics, material and human resources. In order to shed further light on organ building and Decorative Arts in general, this paper explores the data recorded in a Tibães account book about this monumental undertaking, to reassess the period of its implementation and its overall cost, and to have a better understanding of the raw materials used, the quality of services and the diversity of trades then involved. This reading allows to portray historical, geographical, socio-economical, technological and artistic aspects of the later 18th C, in Portugal, within a context leading with both civil and religious concerns.