Two American Mavericks

Synopsis

Robert Worby explores the music of James Tenney and Pauline Oliveros, both born in the 1930s in the American South West, and both pioneers in tape music who developed their own musical characters while ignoring the rules. Including an archive interview with Tenney, who died in 2006, and a conversation with Oliveros recorded at the Deep Listening Retreat she led in Devon.

Opening collage contains excerpts from 'Ione' by Oliveros and 'Koan' by Tenney.
(Full details of these pieces below)

Tenney: Collage no.1: Blue Suede Shoes (3:30)
(tape music)
From the album: James Tenney: Selected Works 1961- 1969
CD: New World Records 80570

Oliveros: I of IV (excerpt) (4:05)
(electronic music)
From the album: Pauline Oliveros - Electronic Works 1965 + 1966
CD: Paradigm Discs PD 04

Tenney: Chorale (3:50)
Clemens Merkel (violin)
Eve Egoyan (piano)
BBC recording at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2008

Oliveros: Ione (17:40)
Pauline Oliveros (accordion)
Stuart Dempster (trombone and didgeridoo)
From the album Deep Listening
CD: New Albion NA 022 CD

Tenney: Koan (20:06)
Quatuor Bozzini
BBC recording at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2008

Oliveros: Poem of Change (10:21)
Pauline Oliveros (voice, accordion)
From the album: Lesbian American Composers
CD: CRI CD 780

Broadcast

1. Sat 21 Nov 2009
   22:30
   BBC Radio 3