Beethoven Was a Lesbian: A Tribute to Pauline Oliveros

ADMISSION:
Admission is free. Reservations required. RSVP beginning Wednesday, October 4, at 9 a.m.

DESCRIPTION:
One of the foremost avant-garde composers of her generation, Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016) expanded our understanding and perception of sound. In her groundbreaking career, Oliveros consistently experimented with new musical forms, emphasizing the potential of non-hierarchal musical practices and collaboration. An influential figure in Southern California’s artistic communities during the 1970s, Oliveros’s work was inspired by and deeply committed to the women’s movement. ONE Archives, in collaboration with author, playwright/director, and poet IONE and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), will present an open set of performances, meditations,  Deep Listening, screenings, and discussions in tribute to Oliveros’s extensive work in experimental and electronic music. Featuring performances across multiple spaces; archival film and video screenings; and discussions about Oliveros’s musical work, 1970s Southern California, and Latinx musical history, this immersive event will offer exciting new ways to explore Oliveros’s landmark contributions to music. The event’s title, Beethoven Was a Lesbian, comes from a 1974 collaboration between Oliveros and Alison Knowles that addressed women’s outsider status in the music world. 

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) is an artist collective committed to transforming the way music is created and experienced. The ensemble’s 35 members are featured as soloists, chamber musicians, commissioners, and collaborators with the foremost musical artists of our time. Works by emerging composers have anchored ICE’s programming since its founding in 2001, and the group’s recordings and digital platforms highlight the many voices that weave music’s present.

Check out this video of ICE to learn more about their work and clips of performances.

Read the New York Times obituary of Pauline Oliveros from November 2016.

Additional Links:
International Contemporary Ensemble Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo
ONE Archives Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Presented by USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative. Organized by ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries in conjunction with their exhibition Axis Mundo: Queer Networks in Chicano L.A., organized in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art as part of Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, an initiative of the Getty. The presenting sponsor is Bank of America. Major support is provided through grants from the Getty Founation. Axis Mundo will be presented simultaneously at the ONE Gallery, West Hollywood, and MOCA Pacific Design Center from September 9 through December 31, 2017. Co-sponsored by El Centro Chicano.

Photo: Pieter Kers