commissioned by the Tsilumos Ensemble for SALT New Music Festival 2026
Strigata
solo piccolo or other high instrument
50" • 2026
Eremophila alpestris strigata is the rarest subspecies of horned lark, with less than two thousand individuals left in the wild. The last breeding pair of streaked horned larks in British Columbia was confirmed in 1978—nearly fifty years ago. As suitable breeding habitat is progressively industrialized or urbanized, the presence of this songbird fades away like the final notes of an improvisation, never to be seen or heard again.
As an entry in Catalogue d’oiseaux: BC Miniatures, an “experiment in post-instrumental practice,” Strigata is open to interpretation and adaptation. The performer is invited to improvise on and present the work with creative freedom. Adding electronics, layering other music, and harmonization are several of the many methods of imagining Strigata. Strigata is the fourth entry in Michelle Wolfenden’s personal series of birdsong pieces.
Performed by the Tsilumos Ensemble in September 2026.