Sounding Out: Pauline Oliveros and Lesbian Musicality

by Martha Mockus

Sounding Pauline Oliveros and Lesbian Musicality examines the musical career of the avant-garde composer, accordionist, whose radical innovations of the 1960s, 70s and 80s have redefined the aesthetic and formal parameters of American experimental music. While other scholars have studied Oliveros as a disciple of John Cage and a contemporary of composers Terry Riley, Lou Harrison, Gordon Mumma, and Robert Ashley, Sounding Out resituates Pauline Oliveros in a gynecentric network of feminist activists, writers, artists and musicians. This book shows how the women in Oliveros’s life were central sources of creative energy and exchange during a crucial moment in feminist and queer cultural history. Crafting a dynamic relationship between feminism and music-making, this book offers a queerly original analysis of Oliveros’s work as a musical form of feminist activism and argues for the productive role of experimental music in lesbian feminist theory. Sounding Out combines key elements of feminist theories of lesbian sexuality with Oliveros’s major compositions, performances, critical essays, and interviews. It also includes previously unpublished correspondence between Oliveros and Edith Guttierez, Jill Johnston, Annea Lockwood, Kate Millett, and Jane Rule.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

cw// anti-black racism

Y'all really said, let's drop the hard R n-word for no reason. Queers need to STOP comparing anti-Black racism issues to queer issues these are Not the same things.

I'm giving the book three stars because there is a lot of good information and writing in the text. This is not an excuse for the use of the slur, but just to clarify that the book is well written and is very helpful for learning about Oliveros and her work if that is what you're looking for
.
My negative criticism is based around Oliveros and Mockus' character and the anti-Black racism present in the text. I see this racism primarily in the abrupt use of the slur late in the text after no previous discussion about race. It feels weird and out of place and telling of an underlying issue that is problably connected to Oliveros' relationship with feminist movements (many have been notoriously anti-Black), but obviously this is not something Oliveros can be held accountable for since she passed away several years ago.

I think it is important to address the flaws in the folks that I admire, so these are just my thoughts and feelings as both a human who exists in the world and as someone who feels betrayed by one of my favorite queer artists.

[Stanchung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I studied this book very carefully because of its highly original and state of the art perspective on avant-garde composer and philosopher Pauline Oliveros. Using an expansive and inclusive critical methodology, Mockus presents a portrait that is multi-hued, provocative, and historically as well as biographically situated. I appreciated the extensive research including access to friends and family. Oliveros is an important figure, not just in music, so this work will be valuable.