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Pauline Oliveros – Lone

 

“Lone” by Pauline Oliveros is an example of minimalistic ambient music from her “Deep Listening” album. As it can be understood by the name of the album, she was deeply concerned with the act of listening, experimenting with different instruments in the unity that involves various dynamics and textures. From the beginning to the end of the track “Lone,” I felt like I was on a deserted island, and as the name suggests, I was a loner strolling around on the island aimlessly. Although the combination of those instruments in a meditative way would evoke the feelings that may connect us with the outer world or space, the bloated feeling of loneliness and disconnection was there for me, but in a soothing manner.

On the other hand, the senses of vulnerability and intimacy created by the subtle changes in tone summoned me to get closer to the artist's feelings, which were transferred to the artwork. Therefore, it can also get quite connective and remove the listener from their inner thoughts and emotions. Music is a transformative power that encourages a sense of mindfulness, and Oliveros’s “Lone” is a marvelous example of that side of music. With its richness in the persistent tone of the accordion, a meditative ambiance of resonance is created by the artist and received by the listener. Focusing on the piece for seventeen minutes helped me expand my consciousness and sensitivity to the sonic environment, which was the artist's intention. The scene I depicted in my mind throughout the music involved me having goosebumps accompanied by the consistent waves of the ocean, a navy blue gloomy sky, and the black sands of the shore. In short, “Lone” evoked one feeling that could be the sole synthesis of my experience as the listener, artist’s aim to connect herself to the listener, and the sonic atmosphere of various musical instruments.

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