Organ Anatomy

Berlin-based composers Yiran Zhao, Lula Romero and Lin Yang, along with organist Wanying Lin, examine the organ as both a historical symbol and a complex sonic organism. The relationships between its pipes, manuals, mechanics and wind supply are read as the anatomy of a body. This has inspired three new pieces, in which the composers analyse and explore the organ from different perspectives. Their work is united by the question of how an instrument shaped over centuries can be reimagined beyond its conventional playing techniques.

A central role is played by the electronics, which extend the expressive range of the organ. Electronic sounds and processes, acting as a Fremdkörper, intervene and restructure of the organ's body — supplementing, expanding and complementing it. In this way, the familiar sonic space is enriched with new sound elements and aesthetic perspectives. The organ thus appears at once recognizable and estranged, allowing its sonic possibilities to be experienced anew.

The new pieces will be performed in three different Berlin churches in September 2026.