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John Cage Organ Project

John Cage Organ Project in Halberstadt

ORGAN2/ASLSP, the slowest and longest music piece ever, is being performed for 639 years in Halberstadt

Last tone change:
5 February 2024

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John Cage
* 5 September 1912, Los Angeles, USA. + 12 August 1992, New York.
Composer, music theorist, writer, artist; one of the protagonists of the post-war avant-garde.

The longest music piece in the world is being performed in the city of Halberstadt in Germany: John Cage's composition for organ ORGAN2/ASLSP - As SLow aS Possible - is resounding here in an extreme interpretation of 639 years, that means until the year 2640! Halberstadt is a town (43,800 inhabitants in 2015) in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, and the capital of the district of Harz.

The performance began on 5 September 2001, the 89th birthday of the avant-garde composer and artist John Cage, with a seventeen month-long pause before the first tone of the organ, especially built for the performance of this piece, was to be heard. What at first seemed to be only an utopian idea developed very quickly into an impressive and innovative art project generating a widespread interest. The Halberstadt Cage concert, which fascinates people all over the world, is being accompanied by many additional events and has proved to be a point of attraction wholly in the open spirit of John Cage. Aside from tone changes as determined by the organ piece, further events are taking place in the course of the organ project.

In 1985 ASLSP was created as a version for the piano, but in 1987 John Cage changed it for the organ at the suggestion of the organist Gerd Zacher. The question of how to realise the opus, leads to the conclusion that "as slow as possible" can be thought and played indefinitely - at least as long as the life of an organ lasts and also as long as peace and creativity in the following generations exist. But the question remained: How long should the piece be? The first organ performance was 29 minutes. A recent recording lasts 71 minutes. With this question as its point of departure, a project was developed over a time span that caused a worldwide sensation.

Michael Praetorius, a composer and important theorist of music of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, wrote that an organ with the first modern keyboard arrangement had been built in Halberstadt's cathedral in 1361. This organ was the first of its kind with a claviature of 12 notes, and this claviature is used on our keyboard instruments today. So one can say that the cradle of modern music was in Halberstadt. Subtract 1361 from the millennial year 2000, and the result ist 639. In the year 2000, - 639 years had passed since the "fatal day of Halberstadt" (Harry Partch) - the performance of Cage's "as slow as possible" for the coming 639 years began.

The place is St. Burchardi, one of the oldest churches of the city. Built around 1050 at the behest of Burchard of Nahburg, bishop of Halberstadt at that time, this church functioned as a Cistercian convent for more than 600 years. In the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), St. Burchardi was partially destroyed, but was rebuilt in 1711 and secularised by Jérome, the brother of Napoleon, in 1810. For 190 years the church was used as a barn, hovel, distillery and a sty.

St. Burchardi was rediscovered, and is now the venue of this extraordinary project, that has aroused the fascination of many people around the world. In view of our fast moving age, this piece of music is a way of trying to slow down our hectiv lives. The "discovery of slowness" and the planting of a "musical apple tree" can be understood as symbols of confidence in the future. The length of this performance symbolises not only, and that was Cage's intention, the perception of music or a piece of music. It also means the perception of time, supposed standstill and transitoriness. As a generational project, this piece of music resists fast reception, the simple solution which is preferred in our society.

The project is backed by the John-Cage-Orgel-Stiftung Halberstadt, a private foundation with minimal endowment capital, and run on a voluntary basis. The project lives primarily from the generosity of Cage enthusiasts, the commitment of the association Förderverein John-Cage-Orgel-Kunst-Projekt, private sponsors and the many visitors.

Donor Plaques
Until 2021, there was the possibility to support the project with a so-called "donor plaque". These plaques, one for each year of performance and provided with a specific dedication and reason, have been attached to a steel band running around the church. In the meantime, all donor plaques have been assigned.

Supporting through art acquisition
Under the title "ASLSP live stones" the artist Olaf Wegewitz created a pictorial interpretation of John Cage's score. From February 5, 2022 - until ??? the series was exhibited in the Cage House next to the Burchardi Church (see the presentation of the exhibition). Olaf Wegewitz has contributed his artworks from "ASLSP live stones" as a sponsorship opportunity. When one or more paintings are acquired, the payment of 639 EUR (the amount corresponds to the performance period of the John Cage Organ Art Project) directly benefits the foundation's goal. The artist receives a small sum as an expense allowance. More about and artwork ordering: Supporting through art acquisition.

The Final Ticket
The Foundation's new funding concept envisions that supporters can contribute to the John Cage Organ Art Project Halberstadt by purchasing a kind of art share, the "Final Ticket." As can be read on the website: "The idea is simple. Secure a ticket in your name for the final event of the project on September 4 in 2640. That will be on a Saturday. Can't make it on that date? You will be unable to attend? It does not matter. The ticket is transferable. Just invite your descendants. You can also resell the ticket later, should you suddenly have other plans after all." More information and from when this sponsorship concept applies: The Final Ticket.

For more information, including the current tone, supporting the project, current events, dates of tone changes, the association and people, etc., please see the official website: www.aslsp.org


© Text based on press information of the John-Cage-Orgel-Stiftung Halberstadt.
© Translation from German, photos, video, : Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe


Exhibition at the Cage-Haus:

A pictorial interpretation of John Cage's score "As SLow aS Possible", created by means of random operations. Cage Haus Halberstadt, Germany, 5 February 2022 - February 2024. With the sale of paintings from this series Olaf Wegewitz supports the John Cage Organ Project Halberstadt.


Address, contact:

ORGAN2/ASLSP
Performed from 2001 until the year 2640
Burchardikirche
Am Kloster 1
38820 Halberstadt
Germany

Location on map

Opening hours

Contact:
John-Cage-Orgel-Stiftung Halberstadt
Am Kloster 1
Cage Haus
D-38820 Halberstadt
Tel: +49(0)3941 621620
Website | Email


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