Kathmandu— A small organ in the medieval Burchardi Church in Halberstadt, Germany, has been playing a composition by American avant-garde composer John Cage since September 5, 2001. The piece, titled 'ORGAN²/ASLSP (As SLow aS Possible)', is set to continue until September 4, 2640, with the recent addition of an eighth pipe marking a significant milestone in its glacial progression.

Historic Moment Marks Progress

On Wednesday, the organ played its 17th chord change since the project began. This rare event was witnessed by over 150 people inside the church and dozens more watching a livestream from outside. The addition of an eighth pipe to the small organ brought about a subtle but noticeable difference in sound that reverberated throughout the medieval structure.

Cage's Legacy Lives On

John Cage, known for his avant-garde compositions and theories, died in 1992. His piece 'ORGAN²/ASLSP' was initially composed for piano in 1985 and later adapted for the organ in 1987. The Halberstadt project began in 2000 as a tribute to a historic organ from 1361, with Cage’s only directive being to play it 'as slowly and as softly as possible.'

The Burchardi Church itself has undergone significant restoration efforts to accommodate the long-term performance. Anneli Borgmann, chairwoman of the John Cage Organ Project Halberstadt’s board of trustees, emphasized the project's significance in a world moving at an accelerated pace.

Future Generations Ensure Continuity

The 639-year performance requires ongoing stewardship from successive generations. Each chord change depends on new musicians, volunteers, and craftspeople to maintain the piece’s integrity. Jeffrey Lependorf, executive director of the John Cage Trust in New York, noted that the organ plays the church rather than vice versa, with sound changing dramatically even with small movements within the space.

Michael Barnett, a Cage enthusiast from Glasgow, Scotland, sees attending this chord change as a bucket list item. He and other fans speculate about what the world might look like by 2640 when the final performance concludes.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.