kali malone

FROM THE SACRED GLAMOUR OF THE CHURCH ORGAN TO CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION

interview and portraits

by ALEPH MOLINARI

ALEPH MOLINARI — You play a singular instrument: the pipe organ. It’s the largest in the world, whose sound extends into the architecture of the church itself. In a way, the entire building becomes an instrument. Why were you first drawn to this instrument?

KALI MALONE — I was first interested in tuning systems and historical temperaments. I was studying composition at the conservatory in Stockholm, and as part of my thesis, I interviewed an organ tuner. I ended up apprenticing with him for two years, and we traveled all over Sweden tuning and repairing organs. I was fascinated by the sound pressure while tuning the pipes. At the same time, I was making electroacoustic music and creating generative sound pieces that followed the principles of early polyphonic music — like four-part harmony…