A small organ in eastern Germany is drawing attention as the world’s slowest concert, according to ABC News. It has been performing the same John Cage composition at an extremely gradual pace for nearly 25 years.
The next chord change, set for Wednesday, will add an A4 pipe and mark about 4% completion of the 639-year John Cage Organ Project in Halberstadt. The performance began in 2001 after a long silent opening and is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 4, 2640.
John Cage’s work, titled “ORGAN²/ASLSP” or “As SLow aS Possible,” is being carried out inside the medieval Burchardi Church. An electric blower keeps air moving through the organ, while manual changes alter the sound when pipes are added or removed.
Jeffrey Lependorf of the John Cage Trust said the music is felt physically as well as heard. Organ builder Johannes Hüfken said the pipes were designed to last at least another 500 years, and project organizers say the long time frame is meant to honor a historic Halberstadt organ dating to 1361.
