A sound and spatial installation by Peter Androsch.

The Polyphon is an acoustic marvel, a masterpiece of furniture design and advanced sound engineering. Each of its countless drawers contains a specific sound. Opening them brings that sound to life.

What does space sound like?

The idea that the universe has a sound dates back to antiquity. Celestial bodies were believed to generate their own "music of the spheres." Even today, metaphors from acoustics and music are used to describe phenomena in astronomy and cosmology, such as the Big Bang, cosmic strings, baryonic acoustic oscillations, or background noise. The polyphon bears the name Harmonia Mundi major work , Harmonices Mundi completed in Linz in 1618. This gigantic alchemical cabinet makes celestial harmony tangible.

672 drawers – 672 sounds – 672 pulsars

The polyphony "transposes" the electromagnetic waves of the pulsars into fascinating sounds. We hear these pulsating stars rotating on their own axis. Whoever opens the shutters composes their own symphony of stars from the depths of space. Listen and be amazed! We promise.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is mystery. It is the source of all true art and all science." (Albert Einstein)

Click on the logo to listen to the broadcast from December 15, 2025 on Radio Klassik Stephansdom.