I met Pauline Oliveros , legendary composer and creator of Deep Listening, in June 2005 at Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA) in New Smyrna, Florida. She was a master mentor for their Residency #114. At that time I (as a Full Sail representative) was on ACA’s list of contacts for Orlando venues who welcomed outreach presentations by their master artists – thus satisying their grant obligations. This provided Full Sail students with access to international leaders in the arts, and it cost Full Sail nothing but a presentation room. A marvelous win-win.
Pauline was, at that time, developing new technology to create her DOMEWORKS series and Full Sail was the perfect place for that to happen. Domeworks was a real-time audio-visual experience. 3D art was projected from the floor onto a 20 foot dome screen covered in lycra. An octophonic array of loudspeakers mounted around the dome’s perimeter projected Pauline’s improvised, computer generated music performance throughout the dome. Visuals were generated by the same control parameters that created the music. As Pauline changed the parameters the objects changed color, shape and movement. As Ximena changed the virtual visuals, she would influence the data constructing Pauline’s sounds.
We had to cancel the performance at Full Sail because there was a snag in shipping that delayed parts of the dome. But the performance did happen at ACA’s Inside/Outside public performance that traditionally caps the end of each residency. All in all, a mind-opening, ear-opening experience.
Pauline Oliveros on Deep Listening
“What Is Deep Listening?
For me Deep Listening is a life long practice. The more I listen the more I learn to listen. Deep Listening involves going below the surface of what is heard, expanding to the whole field of sound while finding focus. This is the way to connect with the acoustic environment, all that inhabits it, and all that there is.
Deep Listening is a practice consisting of listening and sounding exercises and pieces I and others have composed since 1970. The results are processed by group discussions in workshops and retreats. Deep Listening is for musicians as well as participants from other disciplines and interests. Previous musical training is not required.
The key to multi-level existence is Deep Listening – listening in as many ways as possible to everything that can possibly be heard all of the time. Deep Listening is exploring the relationships among any and all sounds whether natural or technological, intended or unintended, real, remembered or imaginary. Thought is included. Deep Listening includes all sounds expanding the boundaries of perception.
We open in order to listen to the world as a field of possibilities and we listen with narrowed attention for specific things of vital interest to us in the world. Through accessing many forms of listening we grow and change whether we listen to the sounds of our daily lives, the environment or music. Deep Listening takes us below the surface of our consciousness and helps to change or dissolve limiting boundaries.
Deep Listening is a birthright for all humans.”
Taken from the Center for Deep Listening.
The above video demonstrates the beauty, depth, and mystery held by the combination of simple instructions and Deep Listeners called “LISTENING OUT LOUD.” The instructions are”Inhale Deeply. Exhale singing a note of your choice. Listen to the sounds around you and match your next note to one of them. On your next breath, make a note no one else is making. Repeat.
Deep Listening music has an analogy to swarming, common in nature where individuals follow simple rules and the group exhibits complex, coordinated behavior. There is no central command or authority. If birds leaves the group, the swarm still happens. Imagine you’re one of those birds, following the simple instructions of a Sonic Meditation – noone knows where it might go….!