Pauline Oliveros

Full biography Pauline Oliveros

Pauline Oliveros was an American composer, performer, and teacher who made significant contributions to the fields of electronic and experimental music. She was born in Houston, Texas on May 30, 1932, and died on November 24, 2016, in Kingston, New York.

Oliveros was a pioneer in the development of experimental music techniques and electronic music. She was also a key figure in the development of the practice of "deep listening," which emphasizes the importance of paying attention to sound and the environment around us.

Throughout her career, Oliveros composed music that was experimental and avant-garde, often employing unusual instrumentation and techniques. For example, she created pieces in which performers were asked to listen to her feet as they walked on the ground or to the sounds of their own breathing.

Oliveros was also a renowned teacher and mentor, teaching at institutions including the University of California, San Diego, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was a co-founder of the Deep Listening Institute, which promotes education and research in the art of listening.

Oliveros' contributions to music and experimental sound continue to be celebrated and studied today. Her work and legacy have influenced numerous artists and musicians, and her ideas about deep listening and experimental music remain relevant and inspiring to many.