Birdsong: Morning Concert
About this Event
Birdsong: Morning – Concert of the SALT New Music Festival
Musicians of the SALT Experiment
An outdoor dawn concert where new music and the natural soundscape meet.
What happens when the concert hall has no walls—and the birds become part of what we hear?
Birdsong: Morning Concert invites audiences to Mount Tolmie for an early-morning encounter between contemporary music and the sounds of the surrounding landscape. Musicians of the SALT Experiment perform a series of short new works while birds, wind, trees, and the waking city create an ever-changing sonic environment around them.
For Catalogue d’oiseaux: BC Miniatures, SALT invited young composers from British Columbia and beyond to create new short works inspired by the song and character of birds found in British Columbia. The collection draws on species ranging from the Coastal Vesper Sparrow, Northern Spotted Owl, Burrowing Owl, and Western Screech-Owl to the Marbled Murrelet, Black Swift, Streaked Horned Lark, and Short-tailed Albatross.
These miniatures are not simply musical imitations of birdsong. Each composer approaches their chosen bird differently—through its call, rhythm, movement, habitat, character, or ecological story.
At dawn, the composed pieces enter into dialogue with the sounds already present on Mount Tolmie. Music alternates with moments of quiet listening, allowing the natural environment to become part of the concert. No two performances could ever sound exactly the same.
The setting is integral to the experience. Mount Tolmie’s meadows, rocky landscape, and Garry Oak habitat provide a place to listen not only to the music being performed, but also to the living soundscape around it.
For SALT 2026: PROXIMITY, Birdsong: Morning Concert explores closeness between human creativity and the natural world. It asks us to listen differently—to a musical gesture, to a bird call, to silence, and to the place in which we are standing.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This is a brief outdoor concert at dawn in a natural park setting.
Please dress warmly and for the weather, and wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. The event takes place around natural trails, grass, and uneven terrain, so footwear suitable for an outdoor walk is recommended.
There will be moments of performed music and moments when we simply listen to the surrounding environment. Birds and other natural sounds are part of the experience, and we encourage quiet arrival and attentive listening throughout.
Please respect the park’s sensitive natural environment and remain on designated paths and gathering areas.
Accessibility: Because this event takes place outdoors in a natural landscape, some areas may involve grass and uneven terrain. If you have mobility or other accessibility needs, please contact us in advance so we can provide more information about the site and access to the performance area.
ABOUT SALT NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL
The SALT New Music Festival is a contemporary music festival based in Victoria, BC, bringing together British Columbian, Canadian, and international composers and performers.
The 2026 edition explores the theme of Proximity—closeness to one another, to nature, to the universe, and across differences of background, nationality, identity, and generation. Through concerts, outdoor events, movement, and shared listening, SALT creates encounters where new music becomes a space for connection, exchange, and discovery.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
