Organ Series: John Cage’s “Organ2/ASLSP”

From Jan. 7–15, 2026, Goldman Professor of Organ Kimberly Marshall and three organist colleagues will present John Cage’s “Organ2/ASLSP” (As Slow and Soft as Possible). The eight movements will be performed continuously over the eight-day period. There is currently a 639-year performance taking place in Halberstadt, Germany.

“ASLSP” began as a piano work commissioned for the 1985 University of Maryland Piano Festival and Competition (now the William Kapell competition). The title, an abbreviation of “as slow and soft as possible,” refers to “Soft morning, city! Lsp!” – the first exclamations in the last paragraph of “Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce. 

Marshall will host the event in the ASU Organ Hall, where both the Fritts (1991) and the Traeri (1742) organs will be used, adding another dimension to the experience with the 250-year difference between the construction dates of the instruments. 

Joining Marshall for six-hour shifts on each of the eight days will be Christopher Anderson (Southern Methodist University), Diane Luchese (Towson University) and ASU alumnus Alexander Meszler (DMA ’20) who now teaches at Luther College.

The ASU Organ Hall will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Jan. 7, from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Jan. 8-14 and from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Jan. 15 when the performance ends.

Everyone is invited to view the continuous livestream of the concert whenever desired. For a streaming link and further information, visit https://www.kimberlymarshall.com.