No time for witty introductions today, so let’s dive right into the Sea Organ (morske orgulje), a natural musical instrument located on the shores of Croatia. At seventy meters long, the Sea Organ consists of thirty-five pipes built under the concrete. The musical pipes are positioned so that the sea water and wind movements produce musical sounds that are heard by passers by, thereby achieving a unity of architecture and environment. As sea forces and energies are unpredictable in terms of tides and winds, this organ offers a never-ending concert of unscripted music in which the performer is nature itself. If you recall, this was also the case with the Singing Ringing Tree we featured not too long ago.
This masterpiece of acoustics and architecture was created by expert Dalmatian stone carvers and architect Nikola Basic in 2005, who recently received the European Prize for Urban Public Space for this project. Many tourists come to listen to this unique aerophone, and enjoy unforgettable sunsets with a view of nearby islands. Famed director Alfred Hitchcock said that the most beautiful sunset in the world can be seen from precisely this spot on the Zadar quay. I for one can’t wait to take in a sunset, while listening to the sounds being emitted from this truly unique installation.