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3 clusters · 25 sources · 18 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 23 days ago

Halberstadt 639-year John Cage organ

Overview

The John Cage composition ORGAN²/ASLSP, begun on 5 September 2001 in the medieval Burchardi Church in Halberstadt, Germany, is designed to run for 639 years, ending in September 2640. After 25 years of continuous, unattended play, the project reached roughly four percent of its total duration.

On 5 August 2026, the organ received its 17th chord change. A new A-pipe was installed, expanding the chord from seven to eight simultaneous tones and resulting in a slightly brighter sound. Project chairwoman Anneli Borgmann described the addition as creating a “richer sound carpet,” while John Cage Trust director Jeffrey Lependorf noted that listeners “feel it through your whole body.”

The performance utilizes a specially constructed organ that employs a continuous airflow system and small sandbags on the keys to maintain notes for extended periods. The ongoing work has also supported the restoration of the historic church. The next scheduled tone changes are slated for October 2027, 2028, and 2030.

Entities

John Cage · Halberstadt · Burchardi Church · Anneli Borgmann · Dieter Schnebel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The musical experiment takes place in the St. Burchardi Church in Halberstadt.
[● 2 SOURCES] The project is managed by the John Cage Organ Foundation Halberstadt.
[● 2 SOURCES] The musical piece Organ2/ASLSP is designed to last for 639 years.
[● 2 SOURCES] The 17th sound change in the project recently occurred.
[● 2 SOURCES] The sound has changed from a seven-tone sequence to an eight-tone sequence by adding the note 'a'.
[● 2 SOURCES] The new sound profile will last for the next 14 months.
[● 2 SOURCES] The piece is scheduled to conclude on September 4, 2640.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The project uses a specially constructed organ with a continuous airflow system.

Timeline

23 days ago

[CULTURE] 3 sources
Halberstadt organ project reaches 17th sound change
The 639-year musical project ‘Organ2/ASLSP’ in Halberstadt, Germany, has completed its 17th sound change, transitioning to an eight-tone sequence that will last for 14 months.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 16 sources
Halberstadt organ adds new pipe in 25‑year‑old John Cage performance
Halberstadt’s John Cage organ added an A‑pipe on 5 Aug 2026, expanding the chord to eight notes in the 639‑year ASLSP piece that runs from 2001 to 2640.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 7 sources
Halberstadt’s 639‑Year John Cage Organ Performance Adds New Tone
John Cage’s 639‑year organ piece in Halberstadt’s Burchardi Church adds an “a′” pipe on 5 Aug 2024, expanding to eight tones; the project runs without an organist and aims to finish in 2640.

Sources

acadienouvelle.com · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · archiv.monopol-magazin.de · bekimchristensen.dk · bs-media.de · courage-online.de · faz.net · fehmarn24.de · hna.de · independent.co.uk · jesus.de · kreiszeitung.de · leinetal24.de · mannheim24.de · marktplatz.zeit.de · muenchner-merkur.de · onetz.de · op-online.de · orgelnieuws.nl · radiobrocken.de · theshillongtimes.com · tz.de · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br · vietnamplus.vn · worldcatholicnews.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history