BEK Opening Week 2024: Expanded Listening – a workshop by Alan Courtis
Published
As part of BEK Opening Week 2024, we offer a free workshop with Argentinian musician and guitarist Alan Courtis on expanded listening.
This participatory workshop is based on the Deep Listening techniques developed by acclaimed American composer Pauline Oliveros. However it is also based on Courtis’ approach and experience to these subjects: in fact, he was for many years a friend and collaborator of Oliveros, as well as a translator of several of her texts into Spanish.
This workshop consists of a set of activities oriented to explore the possibilities of listening and to expand its perceptual potentialities. It also includes contents such as differences between hearing and listening, different listening levels, and their various connections to the spatiotemporal continuum. It’s based mostly on practical exercises that will require active involvement from all the participants.
It is not necessary to have previous musical knowledge or training of any kind to be able to do this workshop.
Tuesday 13 February
10:00
BEK, C. Sundts gate 55, 9th floor
Duration: 3 hours, with a shared lunch at BEK afterward
Sign up by filling out this form. E-mail us at resources@bek.no if you have additional questions.
Alan Courtis
Alan ‘Anla’ Courtis is a teacher, artist and musician, who co-founded the cult band Reynols in the 90s, breaking barriers by fronting a drummer and singer with Down’s Syndrome. Courtis has a background in teaching music to people with learning disabilities, and as a musician he has collaborated with a string of artists worldwide, including Pauline Oliveros, Merzbow, members from Acid Mothers Temple and Sonic Youth.
This workshop is presented in collaboration with NyMusikk Bergen, where Alan Courtis will hold a talk on 12 February. He will also do a concert with Bergen Impro Storband at Gyldenpris Kunsthall Hop on the evening of Tuesday 13 February.
Images: 1) Alan Courtis 2) Alan Courtis, photo: Daniel Caldirola