ISSUE hosts a series dedicated to the works of Pauline Oliveros, Eliane Radigue & Laurie Spiegel. The compositional practices of each of these distinguished composers reflect an organic physical relationship with the natural properties of sound production. Through an extended engagement with new forms of electronic technology, the works of Oliveros, Radigue and Spiegel exhibit innovative and intuitive processes that rethink concepts of musical perception and redefine the traditionally hierarchical roles of performer/listener, professional/amateur, and musician/non-musician.
The subtle but wide-reaching impact of their pioneering works remains critically underexamined. Despite these artists' development in parallel motion to the widely celebrated careers of composers such as La Monte Young and Philip Glass, the artistic trajectories of these three women remain largely underexposed and the inherent distinctions of their works from the male-dominated classification of minimalism remain underemphasized. Through a series of talks, rare performances, and premieres, "The Propensity of Sound" begins a dialogue to redress aspects of the distorted historical narrative of music after 1960, highlighting the essential contributions and wholly unique approaches to sound production developed by these women composers.
