Workshop, performance and book launch in celebration of the legacy of groundbreaking composer Pauline Oliveros.
‘A Year of Deep Listening’ was a 365-day online celebration of the legacy of groundbreaking composer Pauline Oliveros, in honour of what would have been Oliveros’ 90th birthday (May 30, 2022).
Originally started online, The Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer published one text score per day—online and across social media platforms—for 365 days.
An expression of the Deep Listening community, the scores were created by over 300 artists, ranging from prize-winning composers to ear-minded grocery store clerks, from those who worked closely with Pauline Oliveros for decades, to those she never met. Published by Terra Nova and distributed by MIT Press, these scores are now brought together in one beautiful and historic volume, A Year of Deep Listening.
Join us on Saturday 5 April for a day of Deep Listening curated by UK-based musician, artist and Deep Listening facilitator, Dan Johnson.
During our afternoon workshop Dan will guide participants through the key principles of Deep Listening Practice using a selection of pieces from the ‘A Year of Deep Listening’ book.
The evening performance will showcase a further selection of pieces from ‘A Year of Deep Listening’, some of which will include optional audience participation.
“The more I listen the more I learn to listen. Deep Listening explores the relationships among any and all sounds whether natural or technological, intended or unintended, real, remembered or imaginary. Thought is also included. Deep Listening practice consists of listening, sounding, and movement pieces… the results of which are then processed by group discussion, personal reflections, or both. Deep Listening is for musicians as well as participants from other disciplines and interests. Previous musical training is not required.” -Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016) was a composer, performer, humanitarian, and an important pioneer of American music. Acclaimed internationally, for six decades she explored sound, forging new ground for herself and others. Through improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation. she created a body of work with such a breadth of vision that it profoundly affects those who experience it and eludes many who try to write about it. Oliveros was honoured with many awards, including four honorary doctorates, grants and concerts internationally.
Performers:
Pam Rose Cott, Annie Gardiner, Dan Johnson, Kit Wilmans Fegradoe, Anushiye Yarnell.
Dan Johnson is a certified Deep Listening Facilitator with the Centre for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York. He also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning from the University of Sussex, and has been involved with research & development programmes at Stanford University and the Marina Abramovic Institute.
He leads the inclusive percussion/performance art project, ‘Ecstatic Drum Beats’, and as well as being an avid solo performer his past & present collaborators include: Maggie Nicols, Moor Mother, EP/64, Valentina Magaletti, Ximena Alarcón, Nathan England-Jones and MARCY.
Dan is currently artist in residence at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK.
“Dan Johnson needs to be seen to be believed…an exciting addition to any band’s lineup, but as a solo performer his drumming is unparalleled…engaging audiences and never bowing to the traditional limitations of the instrument, Dan continues to exceed his last, best performance. Just go and watch.” – Ed Taylor, ‘The Grey Area’, Noods Radio
“Deep Listening was known to some participants in the workshop and completely new to others. Dan began the workshop by explaining very clearly the concepts underpinning the exercises, and continued leading the session with easy-to-follow instructions for exercises. No-one felt left behind or under-stimulated. The workshop was varied and suitable for all levels of experience, while instructions were open to personal interpretation – no mean feat. Using movement, dreams, and the workshop space, participants were guided in an exploration of the connectivity of sounds and situations. For me, the time spent actively listening to a cavernous space, finding the beauty in distant traffic sounds, as well as the continual hums, clicks and creaks of my own body in a group listening experience will be a memory to be treasured.” – Workshop participant feedback.
Anushiye Yarnell is an interdisciplinary dance maker and performer whose work is drawn from personal experience, past and future mythologies. Her works examine the intersection of dream and fantasy realms with ordinary life, seeking out connections between day-to-day experiences of the world and anthropological, philosophical, poetic and artistic frameworks.
Pam Rose Cott is a multidisciplinary artist working with sound, improvised vocals, writing and textiles. Her meditations weave together poetry, song, field recording and an array of instruments.
Annie Gardiner is an artist, songwriter and producer. She has musical projects under her own name, Excellent Birds, MARCY and noise-rock duo Hysterical Injury. She works as a producer with a diverse range of artists from legendary J&J studios and Joe’s Garage in Bristol.
Kit Wilmans Fegradoe aka. Mr Kit is a borderless musician, who composes and plays in all areas of the music world, from improvisation to pop. Expect to witness the rarity of the stringed Swarsangum with its sitar like tones and the soft jazz inflected winds of the cornet in full dance in the musical sphere.