Aggregate Festival Berlin 2026

The 6th edition of the AGGREGATE Festival —directed by the Berlin-based ensemble gamut inc —covers a broad spectrum of organ music where the acoustic meets the digital: computer-controlled and wind-dynamic instruments, human-machine interaction, and the radical minimalism of 1-bit electronics. Over the course of two days, new works will be presented at two iconic Berlin venues: St. Hedwig’s Cathedral and, for the first time, the Konzerthaus Berlin.

The series kicks off with a performance of works by electronic music pioneer Laurie Spiegel adapted for the organ at the Konzerthaus. In direct collaboration with the composer—who has granted gamut inc permission to create the arrangements and provided the necessary material—the pieces“East River Dawn” and“Drums” from the album “The Expanding Universe” will be adapted for the organ. Spiegel’s algorithmic musical language, with its evolving textures and shifting timbres, is particularly fascinating. gamut inc works with pulse-width modulation of MIDI notes and approximated overtone structures—on their custom-developed modular organ BLACK SQUARE, this is complemented by precise air pressure control per pipe. As Ensemble in Residence (2026–27 season), gamut inc will also present an expanded version of“dialogue de l’orgue double”: In this performance, BLACK SQUARE enters into dialogue with the organ in the Great Hall of the Konzerthaus. Seth Horvitz, known as Rrose, presents a new series of works for automated pipe organ. Her compositions use simple computer-aided compositional processes to explore the boundaries of human perception and mechanical precision: temporal distortions and iterative processes coalesce into a sensual complexity. Phillip Sollmann & Konrad Sprenger adapt one of their pieces for the Konzerthaus organ—a work that unfolds layer by layer and culminates in a mesmerizing rush of sound.

Organist Marcel Andreas Ober, together with electronic musician Bernsteinzimmer, will open the festival’s second day at St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. Mexican composer Mauricio Silva Orendain will presenta new work for computer-controlled organ.

Finally, Tristan Perich & James McVinnie will present INFINITY GRADIENT, a one-hour symphony in seven movements for pipe organ and 100 speakers in 1-bit audio.

The 6th edition of AGGREGATE—led by the Berlin ensemble gamut inc—spans a wide spectrum of organ music where the acoustic meets the digital—computer-controlled and wind-dynamic instruments, human-machine interaction, and the radical minimalism of 1-bit electronics. Over two days, new works will be presented at two iconic Berlin venues: St. Hedwig’s Cathedral and, for the first time, the Konzerthaus Berlin.

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September 30, , 2026, , 8:00 p.m., Konzerthaus 

Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin

Laurie Spiegel & gamut inc: East River Dawn, Drums

gamut inc: dialogue de l’orgue double

Seth Horvitz aka Rrose

Sollmann Sprenger

Oct 1, 2026, 8 :00 p.m. St. Hedwig’s Cathedral 

Bebelplatz, Berlin

Marcel Andreas Ober & Bernsteinzimmer

Mauricio Silva Orendain

Tristan Perich & James McVinnie: Infinity Gradient