A small organ in Halberstadt, Germany, has been playing a composition by John Cage at a glacial pace for nearly 25 years. The piece, called “ORGAN²/ASLSP (As SLow aS Possible)”, is scheduled to finish on September 4, 2640.

The Project

The John Cage Organ Project Halberstadt commenced in 2000, and the performance began on September 5, 2001, with a silent pause that lasted until February 5, 2003. The composition is played on an electric-powered organ, and a chord change, done manually, means that the sound of the organ pipes changes either because new sounds are added or existing sounds end.

More than 150 people witnessed the 17th chord change, with dozens more watching a livestream outside. The spectators listened to the “old” chord with its seven pipes for three minutes, then an eighth pipe was added, bringing a new sound that reverberated throughout the church.

Legacy and Future

The project has transformed the Burchardi Church, which was left largely in ruins before money was raised for a new roof and other fixes to make the piece a reality. The sound there envelops visitors throughout the church and gives them new experiences to hear as they move through the empty space.

Generations of stewards will ensure the organ’s future, as each chord change depends upon a new generation of musicians, volunteers, and craftspeople to keep the piece going. The organ builder, Johannes Hüfken, said the pipes he’s crafted for this will last at least another 500 years.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.