COMING UP NEXT!

Chance Encounters with John Cage: CAGE ORGAN PROJECT: ORGAN²/ASLSP

Thursday, August 20, 3–4pm ET

A discussion of Cage's ORGAN²/ASLSP, the longest music piece in the world, taking place in the city of Halberstadt, Germany.

Anneli Borgmann and Moritz Cordes of the Cage Organ Project, the slowest performance of a piece of music in the world, join us for a discussion of the 2026 change of chord and to chat about this remarkable project, its history, and its implications.

John Cage's composition for organ, ORGAN²/ASLSP— As SLow aS Possible — is resounding in the city of Halberstadt, Germany in an extreme interpretation that is intended to last 639 years, until the year 2640!

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

The John Cage Trust is celebrating iconic American composer Steve Reich as he turns 90!

Join us for this not-to-be missed evening—sure to sell out—with Steve Reich himself in attendance, and featuring some of his very favorite musicians and works.

The evening begins with a lavish vegetarian birthday gala dinner with Steve, followed by a very special concert, all at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn.

Here's the amazing lineup so far:

• pianist Stephen Drury performing John Cage's "In a Landscape"

• vocalists Meredith Monk with Katie Geissinger and Allison Sniffin performing Monk's "Memory Song"

• percussionists Garry Kvistad and Russell Hartenberger (of the original Steve Reich Ensemble) performing Reich's "Clapping Music"

• electric guitarist Mark Stewart performing Reich's "Electric Counterpoint"

• plus special surprise guest performers and more!

By attending this historic night, you also raise necessary support for the John Cage Trust, a nonprofit organization that not only preserves and promotes the work of Cage (1912–1992), but fosters the ongoing legacy of his generative influence and spirit thorugh a variety of programs, and by maintaining the Cage Trust archives. Located on the campus of Bard College, we welcome visitors—musicians, scholars, educators, artists, and all interested—throughout the year to programs and tours, as well as collaborate with partners worldwide on exhibitions and performances. At the John Cage Trust, we're interested not so much in what John Cage has done, but in what his legacy is still doing today. Your support helps make this possible!

Please make a donation in support of the John Cage Trust if you are unable to attend.