The main entrance of Chapter in the distance, with some plants in the foreground.

Performance

A Year of Deep Listening: Performance and Book Launch

  • 1h 0m

£5 - £15

Attributes

  • Duration 1h 0m

19:00 – Introduction

19:15 – Performance by Dan Johnson, Annie Gardiner and Liz Excell

20:00 – Book launch and drinks reception

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Join us for a weekend of activity curated by artist in residence and Deep Listening facilitator, Dan Johnson, celebrating the publication of A Year of Deep Listening.

A Year of Deep Listening began as a 365-day online celebration of the legacy of ground-breaking composer Pauline Oliveros, and what would have been her 90th year. The Centre 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.

“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 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.

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About the artists

Dan Johnson has been a professional educator for nine years and a percussionist for over twenty. He holds qualifications in music and education from Bath Spa University and the University of Sussex, as well as being a certified Deep Listening Facilitator with the Centre for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY. In addition, Dan has been involved with research and development groups at Stanford University and the Marina Abramovic Institute. Their work challenges Western/European musical ideals and established notions of what constitutes music/art/dance/theatre.

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.

Liz Excell began her musical journey at a young age, learning piano, choir, drums, and tuned percussion. While studying jazz at Trinity Laban, she was influenced by the music of Ellington, Coltrane, Mingus, and free improv. She played in the London SoundPainting Orchestra and founded the Old Hat Jazz Band. After graduating, Liz toured with Old Hat and the award-winning band Nerija, performing across the UK, Europe, and the USA, as well as on BBC Radio and TV. She also created Jazz Herstory, a monthly showcase for women bandleaders.

In 2019, Liz moved to Cardiff and joined the staff at RWCMD, following a performance on Laura Jurd’s tour. In 2021, she founded Sallix, a project supported by the PRSf Women Make Music Fund, which explores Morse code for creating rhythmic frameworks for improvisation. Liz is also training to become a music therapist at USW.

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