Wave hello to the Secret Power of Sea Organs

What’s more intimate than walking on the beach at sunset? Walking on the beach at sunset while listening to the sweet serenade of a wave-powered organ of course! and if you ever find yourself in San Francisco, Blackpool, or Zadar, I suggest you make a date to visit the local sea organ.

#1 The Sea Organ of Zadar, Croatia

This incredible piece of architecture is built along the coast line of the 3,000-year-old city Zadar, Croatia. The Sea Organ of Zadar attracts thousands of tourists and locals each year with its soothing and “meditative” lullaby. The organ was created as an architectural object to remedy the never-ending concrete wall which was the product of post-WWII reconstruction.

A set of thirty-five pipes run through two-hundred and thirty feet of white marble steps. The marble steps dissolve into the sea. Underneath, the pipes open to receive the oscillating energy of the sea waves. The resulting compression and decompression of air powers the sound of the pipe organ. A row of holes in the top row of steps allow the organ to breathe, while holes on top of the structure speak the sound from the resonating chambers. The organ’s harmonic pipes create a song which is “unpredictable but tuned.”

The organ was opened in April, 2005 and received the European Prize for Urban Public Space in 2006.

Listen to the Sea Organ of Zadar:

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#2 Blackpool High Tide Organ, Blackpool, U.K.

The Blackpool High Tide Organ is a 45-foot-tall tower of concrete, zinc, steel, and copper sheet. The $143,000 musical “manifestation of the sea” is a work of musical art installed on Blackpool’s promenade. Eighteen organ pipes inside of the sculpture are powered by eight large pipes which run underground and terminate into the sea.

The organ, which is tuned to the harmonic series of B-flat, can best be heard 2-3 hours before and after high tide, the times when the most air is being pushed through the pipes. Artist Liam Curtin remarks that “on stormy days the performance is wild and frenzied and on calm days the sound is softer…. People will be able to jam along with the high tide!”

#3 San Francisco’s Wave Organ, San Francisco, California, USA

Although San Francisco’s Wave Organ has been around since 1986, it is a little-known destination. In addition to a sheltered retreat from the city and spectacular views, this secret spot offers a sound experience similar to “listening to the world’s largest sea shell.” As Megan Edwards explains, “It’s like distant drums, muffled cymbals, quiet thunder. The variety is endless, and the sounds of the pipes are punctuated by the cries of gulls and the barks of sea lions.” A listening booth with surround sound and several other listening stations are connected to twenty-five PVC organ pipes and, oddly enough, the amphitheater is built out of carved stones and slabs from a demolished gold-rush-era cemetery.

This work of environmental art is located along the eastern edge of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on a small piece of land jutting out into the bay (here). The best time to hear this organ is at high tide (5:30am Saturday morning).

Conclusion

Part of the appeal of wave-powered organs is their ability to embody the ocean’s natural energy into something audible. The ocean, in a way, is explaining itself through the musical tones of a pipe organ, creating new ways for the ocean to be understood as well as new opportunities for the listener to connect with nature, to have an unusual/inspiring experience with the ocean, and to redefine perspectives. Also, the fact that the sources of the sounds are not readily obvious to explain the audible situation adds to the overall mystery and delight of the sea organ experience.

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Sources:

Sea Organ of Zadar sources: SeaOrgans.com, OddMusic.com, and flickr (1,2)
Blackpool High Tide Organ sources: Wikipedia and lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk
San Francisco’s Wave Organ sources: RoadTripAmerica, Exploratorium, inetours, and flickr