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Music

Pauline Oliveros

Rating: NNNNN


Squeezebox maven who performs as part of the X Avant new music festival at the Music Gallery (197 John), Friday (September 14), 8 pm. $20, advance $15 (students $10, doors only). 416-204-1080. www.musicgallery.org.

What’s the source of the accordion’s stigma? Why is it uncool?

The accordion is associated with Lawrence Welk because of the 1950s TV show. That perception is changing because more and more kinds of music are played on the accordion.

Heard anything great lately?

I like listening to the Tribe.

What recording changed your life?

Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta, by Béla Bartók. I played it over and over again at least 10 times until I understood it.

How have perceptions of women’s roles in music evolved from the time you began?

It used to be okay to play the piano and sing but not much else. Women are filling more and more roles in music these days.

What’s the strangest thing that ever happened during a performance?

Once, while playing in a square dance band, I was patting my foot, and the vibrations slid my chair over the edge of the stage. I wound up doing a slow back flip with my accordion landing on top of me.

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