VideoGist - The difference between hearing and listening | Pauline Oliveros

The difference between hearing and listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis

TEDx Talks

11 min, 38 sec

Three musicians ventured into an underground cistern to explore its unique acoustics, leading to the birth of the Deep Listening Band and a new understanding of the practice of deep listening.

Summary

Musicians descend into a cistern to experience its 45-second reverberation, sparking the concept of deep listening.
The Deep Listening Band was formed, emphasizing improvisation and the cistern's impact on their music.
Deep listening differentiates between hearing and listening, engaging with sound in a more profound way.
The practice has influenced various fields and led to the development of software to simulate cistern acoustics.
The 25th anniversary of the Deep Listening Band celebrated with a performance using the simulated cistern acoustics.

Chapter 1

An Underground Acoustic Adventure

0:30 - 1 min, 19 sec

Musicians explore an underground cistern's acoustics, leading to an improvisational music experience and the formation of the Deep Listening Band.

Three musicians squeeze through a small opening to enter an underground cistern.
They experience the cistern's unique 45-second reverberation time.
This experience gives birth to the Deep Listening Band and their album 'Deep Listening'.

Chapter 2

The Principles of Deep Listening

1:49 - 1 min, 55 sec

Deep listening involves distinguishing between hearing and active listening, expanding awareness of soundscapes, and respecting sound's impact on consciousness.

The musicians learned to respect and incorporate the cistern's reverberations into their musical sensibility.
Deep listening explores the difference between hearing and listening, emphasizing psychological and physical aspects of sound.
It involves accumulated experiences and can focus on details or encompass the entire sound field.

Chapter 3

Listening Versus Hearing

3:44 - 1 min, 20 sec

Listening is a complex, subjective practice that differs from the physical act of hearing, involving interpretation and memory.

Listening is subjective and involves the brain and body sensations, not just the ears.
The interpretation of sound waves by the brain can be immediate or delayed, influencing how we understand what we hear.
Deep listening encourages an expanded perception of sounds, including their temporal and spatial context.

Chapter 4

Adapting to Performance Spaces

5:04 - 53 sec

The practice of listening attentively to space enhances musical performance and has led to the establishment of workshops and educational initiatives.

Deep Listening Band's experience with the cistern informed their approach to other performance spaces.
The band's activities expanded to include retreats, workshops, and a center at Rensselaer for deep listening studies.
Each performance space interacts uniquely with sound, shaping the acoustic experience.

Chapter 5

The Concept and Reach of Deep Listening

5:57 - 2 min, 4 sec

Deep listening is defined by its depth of engagement with sound and its influence on various fields, including urban planning and technology.

Deep listening involves understanding the complexity and boundaries of sound and surpassing ordinary understandings.
The practice has implications for urban environments, technology, and can influence the work of designers, engineers, and planners.
Deep thinkers challenge conventional knowledge, and deep listening seeks to grasp the complexities of sound.

Chapter 6

Simulating the Cistern Experience

8:01 - 2 min, 36 sec

Through technological innovation, the unique acoustic properties of the cistern were simulated, allowing the experience to be shared in concert venues.

The acoustical properties of the cistern were measured and simulated in software.
The simulation was used in a concert to immerse the audience in the cistern's reverberations.
The technology allows the deep listening experience to be transported to various locations worldwide.