FILM SCREENING: Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros

Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016) composer, performer, humanitarian, was an important pioneer in 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 effects those who experience it and eludes many who try to write about it.

Oliveros was honored with many awards, including four honorary doctorates, grants and concerts internationally. Whether performing at the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, in an underground Cistern, or in the studios of a West German radio station, Oliveros’ commitment to interaction with the moment was unchanged. Through Deep Listening Pieces and earlier Sonic Meditations, Oliveros introduced the concept of incorporating all environmental sounds into musical performance. She spoke of this as “playing the space,” playing with whatever space she performed in as another instrument. As she said, “Listening to space changes the space, and changing the space changes listening.” In playing this way, she applied focused concentration, skilled musicianship, and strong improvisational skills, all of which were hallmarks of her performances.

She built a loyal following through her extensive teaching, concerts, recordings, publications, and musical compositions that she wrote for soloists and ensembles in music, dance, theater, and inter-arts companies. She also provided leadership within the music community by acting in an advisory capacity for organizations such as The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts, and many private foundations. She served as Distinguished Research Professor of Music at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Darius Milhaud Composer in Residence at Mills College.

Oliveros was vocal about representing the needs of individual artists, about the need for diversity and experimentation in the arts and promoting cooperation and good will among people. She founded the Deep Listening Institute, formerly Pauline Oliveros Foundation, and now Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.