Longplayer Reaches a Quarter Century of Continuous Play
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As of midday today (GMT), New Year’s Eve, Longplayer has been playing continuously, without repetition, for 25 years.
playing since the cusp of the new millennium, at midnight on 31 December 1999, the composition will continue without repetition (if circumstances permit it to) until the last moments of 2999, when it will return to the point at which it first began – and begin again.
We want to take this possibility to thank you, our community of listeners, for helping to keep Longplayer playing.We also invite you to celebrate Longplayer’s 25th birthday by joining us in a year-long international programme of events, collaborations and initiatives reflecting the work’s unique articulation of time and its dimensions, and the investment in the long-term that Longplayer continues to inspire.
At present, Longplayer is being performed mostly by computers, and can be heard, playing continuously online (via live transmission and an iOS app) and in various locations around the world, including Yorkshire Sculpture Park and London’s only lighthouse, overlooking the Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf. From January 2025, Longplayer will also be playing from a listening post on the rooftop of the House on, a
The Enduring Resonance of Longplayer
The engine of much of this activity has been experimentation with the Longplayer score itself. Despite its current reliance on computers, it has been sung, released on vinyl, encoded through light and beamed across the river, and realised live in rare durational performances.
Longplayer Live
The next of these will take place at the roundhouse on Saturday 5 April 2025, when a 1000-minute section of its score, as writen for that particular time and date, will be performed on a large orchestral instrument comprised of 234 singing bowls, arranged in six concentric rings and played by shifts of six to twelve people at any one time, reading from a graphic score. We
Longplayer Celebrates 25 Years of Continuous music and Community
Longplayer, a groundbreaking musical composition designed to play for 1,000 years, has reached its 25th anniversary. Created by composer jem Finer, the project has evolved into a unique laboratory exploring themes of long-term stewardship, intergenerational connection, the evolving landscape of music, and adaptation to technological and environmental changes. As it marks this milestone, Longplayer acknowledges the global community of listeners who have engaged with the piece for enjoyment, relaxation, and practical applications.
The Genesis of a Millennial Composition
Longplayer began playing on December 31, 1999, at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. https://longplayer.org/about/ The composition is built from approximately 10,000 randomly selected notes drawn from a database of over 250,000, ensuring that the piece will not repeat itself within the 1,000-year timeframe. This ambitious project challenges conventional notions of musical time and invites listeners to contemplate the vastness of history and the future.
A Community Through Time
Over the past quarter-century, Longplayer has fostered a dedicated community of listeners and contributors.Jem Finer reflects on this evolution: “Twenty-five years is really nothing in Longplayer’s scheme of things though it’s starting to feel more substantial to me. People have come and, sadly, people have gone, while some who were young children back in 2000 are now looking after Longplayer. this feels right,that a community through time is emerging,that where Longplayer once felt only future facing it’s now accruing a past. I send great thanks to all those who have supported Longplayer and to the many people who have worked so inspiringly and generously to get it to this point. I hope we can all find some light and peace in the year ahead.”
the project’s longevity has allowed for a unique intergenerational exchange,with individuals who initially experienced Longplayer as children now taking on roles in its maintenance and advancement. this transition embodies the core principle of long-term stewardship that underpins the entire endeavor.
Longplayer’s Impact and Future
Longplayer isn’t simply a musical piece; it’s a platform for exploring critical questions about our relationship with time,technology,and the environment. The project has spurred discussions on:
* Stewardship: How do we care for projects and ideas that extend beyond our individual lifespans?
* Intergenerational Connection: How can we foster meaningful connections between different generations?
* The Future of Music: How will music evolve in the face of technological advancements?
* Adaptability: How can we design systems that are resilient to change?
Longplayer continues to be accessible to a global audience through online streaming and various installations. https://longplayer.org/listen/ the project’s ongoing success demonstrates the power of art to inspire reflection, foster community, and challenge our perceptions of time.
Key Takeaways:
* Longplayer is a 1,000-year musical composition created by Jem Finer.
* It began playing on December 31, 1999, and has reached its 25th anniversary.
* The project fosters a community focused on long-term stewardship and intergenerational connection.
* Longplayer serves as a platform for exploring critical questions about music, technology, and the environment.