⏱️ 5 min read

Did You Know There’s a Song That’s Been Playing Since 2001 and Will End in 2640?

In the quiet town of Halberstadt, Germany, a remarkable musical performance has been unfolding since September 5, 2001. This isn’t your typical concert that lasts a few hours or even a marathon performance spanning a day. This is “As Slow as Possible” (ASLSP), a rendition of an organ composition that is scheduled to take 639 years to complete, making it the longest musical performance in recorded history.

The Origins of ASLSP

The piece being performed is based on a composition by avant-garde American composer John Cage, who created “Organ²/ASLSP” in 1987, just five years before his death. Cage was renowned for pushing the boundaries of what music could be, most famously with his 1952 piece “4’33″”, in which performers remain silent for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, forcing audiences to contemplate ambient sounds as music.

The original organ version of ASLSP was designed to be played for approximately 20 to 70 minutes, depending on the performer’s interpretation of “as slow as possible.” However, a group of musicians, philosophers, and organ builders in Germany decided to take Cage’s instruction to its absolute extreme, creating a performance that would span multiple human lifetimes.

Why 639 Years?

The decision to extend the performance to 639 years was not arbitrary. The number was chosen to commemorate the history of the organ itself. The church where the performance takes place, St. Burchardi in Halberstadt, received its first modern organ in 1361, exactly 639 years before the year 2000. This historical connection provided the perfect symbolic framework for a performance that seeks to explore the concepts of time, patience, and the nature of musical experience.

The Venue and the Instrument

St. Burchardi church has a fascinating history of its own. Originally built in the 14th century, the church was damaged during various conflicts and eventually fell into disuse. By the late 20th century, it was partially in ruins. The ASLSP project breathed new life into this historical structure, transforming it into a unique concert hall and philosophical space.

The organ being used for this performance is specially designed and continuously constructed as the piece progresses. Unlike traditional organs with all pipes installed at once, this instrument is built incrementally, with new pipes added only when they are needed for upcoming notes. This approach serves both practical and financial purposes, as it would be prohibitively expensive to build a complete organ that would sit mostly unused for centuries.

How the Performance Works

The performance began with a rest period lasting 17 months, staying true to Cage’s original score. The first actual note wasn’t heard until February 5, 2003. Since then, the performance has proceeded with extraordinary patience:

Individual notes or chords are held for months or even years at a time
Chord changes are rare and momentous occasions that draw visitors from around the world
Sandbags weight down the organ keys to sustain the notes continuously
An automated system keeps the organ supplied with air to maintain the sound
Each note change is carefully planned and executed with ceremonial precision

Notable Moments in the Performance

Since its inception, several chord changes have marked significant moments in this ongoing performance. Each change is treated as a special event, with attendees gathering to witness history in its slowest form. Some changes have occurred after years of the same sustained tone, making each transition a profound experience for those present.

The project maintains a detailed schedule of when future note changes will occur, allowing people to plan visits years or even decades in advance. This long-term scheduling creates an unusual relationship between the artwork and its audience, one that spans generations.

Philosophical and Artistic Implications

The ASLSP project raises profound questions about the nature of art, time, and human perception. In an era characterized by increasing speed and instant gratification, this performance stands as a monument to patience and long-term thinking. It challenges conventional notions about the temporality of musical performance and the relationship between performer and audience.

The project also serves as a meditation on continuity and change. It will outlive everyone currently alive, including those who initiated it. Multiple generations will serve as its guardians, passing down the responsibility of maintaining the performance like a sacred trust. This multigenerational aspect transforms the project from a simple musical performance into something closer to a living tradition or ongoing ritual.

Funding and Maintenance

The project relies on donations, visitors, and a dedicated foundation to ensure its continuation. The John Cage Organ Foundation Halberstadt manages the performance and maintains the venue. Visitors can attend the church at any time to hear whatever note or chord is currently being played, and admission fees help support the ongoing maintenance costs.

The Future of the Performance

If all goes according to plan, the final note of ASLSP will sound in the year 2640. By that time, the world will have undergone transformations we cannot begin to imagine. Technologies will have evolved, societies will have changed, and yet this one continuous performance will serve as a thread connecting our present to that distant future.

The ASLSP project stands as a testament to human ambition, artistic vision, and the power of music to transcend the normal boundaries of time. It reminds us that art can operate on timescales far beyond individual human lives, creating meaning that accumulates slowly across centuries.

Did You Know There’s a Song That’s Been Playing Since 2001 and Will End in 2640?