Organ of Church of Nossa Senhora da Guia

This text refers to the organ located in the church of Nossa Senhora da Guia, in the Franciscan convent of São Francisco, Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira Island, Azores), nowadays housing the Museum of Angra do Heroísmo.

This instrument has been restored some years ago and has been played quite often since then, with the Museum organising frequent organ recitals, which is very important to its musical health. Most of the organs that exist in the Azores came from Franciscan (both masculine and feminine) institutions of the archipelago. In this case, the instrument remained in the same place it was installed in late 18th century.

Franciscan arrived in the Azores almost at the same time the islands began to be settled in mid-15th century. In Angra by mid-16th century they were already fully active and in the following century begun the building of a new convent on the same foundations of the previous one. The new building was started in 1666 and was finished in 1672. It was already the seat of the new province of Saint John Evangelist of the Azores founded in 1642. So, we have a monumental building fit for this new administrative role.

In 1788 Portuguese organ builder António Xavier Machado e Cerveira built his 22nd instrument for the convent of S. Francisco. It is a fine instrument and it was very well restored by Portuguese master organ builder Dinarte Machado.