in this fast-paced, hectic world of fast food, instant messaging, and other instant gratification, it is always refreshing to take time to slow down and notice small things. read a poem. watch a sunset. just breathe.
i found out today about john cage’s musical expression of slowing down. apparently, he has written a piece for organ that is being performed somewhere in germany and is slated to last 639 years. the first year and a half were a rest (so…silence.) last year, some new notes were added and that made it into a few “weird news” headlines. this year, apparently, a few notes came to an end, but that wasn’t newsworthy enough. you can see the schedule for the piece here. the organ has been hooked up with heavy rocks that sit on the correct keys. you can go and hear the piece from tuesday to sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. you can also “sponsor a year” by paying 1000 euros. then, you get a metal plate with the year and the text of your choice put up in the church (that’s some pricey graffitti!). apparently, the piece can actually be played in 20 minutes if you’re not following the “as slow as possible” musical notation. i wonder which version sounds better.
