John Cage's 639-Year Organ Piece in Halberstadt Adds New Tone
On Wednesday, an eighth note will be introduced in John Cage's ORGAN²/ASLSP, the slowest concert ever, at Burchardikirche in Halberstadt, Germany. This extraordinary performance spans 639 years, commencing on September 5, 2000, which marks Cage's 88th birthday, with the initial sounds of the pipes beginning in 2003. Since 2012, only two bass pipes (c' and des') have been played, and a fifth note was incorporated on October 5, 2013. In September 2020, the addition of two new pipes (gis and e) formed a seven-note chord that persisted until February 5, 2022. A seventh pipe (d') will be introduced on February 5, 2024, resonating until August 5, 2028, symbolizing both Halberstadt's musical heritage and Cage's innovative artistry.
Key facts
- John Cage's ORGAN²/ASLSP is a 639-year-long organ piece performed in Halberstadt, Germany.
- The performance started on September 5, 2000, Cage's 88th birthday.
- The piece will add a new tone (a') on Wednesday, making it an eight-note chord.
- The current seven-note chord includes pipes c', des', dis', ais', e'', gis, and e.
- The new tone will be added to the existing seven-note chord.
- The performance is scheduled to last until the year 2640.
- Halberstadt's Burchardikirche is the venue for the performance.
- The piece references the 1361 inauguration of a large organ with a twelve-tone keyboard in Halberstadt.
Entities
Artists
- John Cage
Locations
- Halberstadt
- Germany
- Burchardikirche