Opening a day at Arnolfini celebrating the work of iconic musician Pauline Oliveros, a chance to learn about her approach to Deep Listening as a practice.
This event is now fully booked. If you would like to go on a waiting list, please email Phil.Owen@arnolfini.org.uk
“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 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 honoured with many awards, including four honorary doctorates, grants and concerts internationally.
In this workshop Ximena Alarcon and Dan Johnson will share an in-depth introduction to Pauline Oliveros’ ‘Deep Listening’ practice. The session will include exercises in focal and global listening, improvising with sound, movement and dreams, as well as opportunities to collaborate whilst developing attention and awareness.
Ximena Alarcon has studied Deep Listening for over 15 years. During this time she worked closely with, and under the tutelage of, Pauline Oliveros. Ximena is a Senior Tutor at the Centre for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.
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.
“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, Cardiff, 2022).
