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Response to Oliveros Dan Harpole Cistern Future of American Music

Future of American Music

Lecturer: Mr. Prof. Dr. Herzogenrath

Student: Ahmad Deyhimi 7167063

10 Hearing Responses for the Hausarbeit

 Response to a piece of work by Pauline Oliveros – “Dan Harpole Cistern.”

The first time watching and hearing the performance in the Dan Harpole Cistern by Pauline Oliveros and the Deep Listening Band was a unique experience, sounds were like an eternal echo. Using the space's long decay time to create complex and evolving sonic textures added depth and complexity to the music, creating a meditative and almost trance-like experience for me. The contemplative and immersive qualities of the piece, combined with the unique acoustic environment of the cistern, caused a profound sense of connection with the sounds and the space, leading to experiences of transcendence and introspection. Moreover, the long decay time and reverberation can blur the lines between notes and create unexpected harmonies, which requires "Deep Listening," as the band is called, paying close attention to sound and engaging with it mindfully and intentionally. Experiencing the fantastic acoustics in the cistern that echoes back made the piece immersive and attractive, which showcases Oliveros's expertise in taking advantage of the cistern's resonant qualities to create an immersive and otherworldly experience for the audience. For me, it illustrated innovativeness and creativeness in the field of music and how sounds can make one relax and evoke attention. Therefore, I believe the performance in the Dan Harpole Cistern is a testament to the power of listening and the potential of unique acoustic spaces to shape and transform the sounds we hear. They can inspire musicians and artists worldwide to explore new ways of creating and experiencing music, which can captivate and enchant audiences, as Oliveros's experiment did with captivating me and perhaps many others. In conclusion, listening to the piece increased my interest in exploring and listening to new possibilities in sound, space, and perception and the potential of human ingenuity to transform the world around us.
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