As Slow as Possible

As Slow As Possible is a musical piece by John Cage and the subject of one of the longest-lasting musical performances yet undertaken. It was originally written in 1987 for organ and is adapted from the earlier work ASLSP 1985; a typical performance of the piano version lasts 20 to 70 minutes.[1] In 1985, Cage opted to omit the detail of exactly how slowly the piece should be played.

The performance of the organ version at St. Burchardi church in Halberstadt, Germany, began in 2001 and is scheduled to have a duration of 639 years, ending in 2640.

Sound changes

The piece started with a 17-month rest on September 5, 2001, Cage's 89th birthday. The first sound appeared on February 5, 2003. Subsequent dates for note changes include:

July 5, 2004                           July 5, 2005

January 5, 2006                    May 5, 2006

July 5, 2008                        November 5, 2008

February 5, 2009                July 5, 2010

February 5, 2011               August 5, 2011

July 5, 2012                       October 5, 2013

September 5, 2020

Read More