Program Notes

The California condor went extinct in 1987. The remaining 27 wild condors were captured by the United States government and bred in captivity as part of a wildly expensive federal conservation project, costing over $35 million. The program was a success, and by 1991, California condors were reintroduced to the wild. As of 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports there are a total of 561 condors living in central California, the Grand Canyon, and Baja California. Despite this impressive increase, the California condor is one of the rarest birds in the world and is still Critically Endangered.

This bird is striking, not in the majestic way like a bald eagle. In fact, the California condor defies all beauty standards for such a notorious bird. It’s a vulture, and it sure looks and behaves like one. The condor does not have a voice box, therefore making them unable to produce a recognizable call. However, they can produce a series of hissing, wheezing, and grunting sounds, only audible up close.

I have written many pieces about nature and animals, always with an underlying theme of sublime beauty. I’ll be frank. This bird is ugly. It defecates on its legs to keep cool. Its Latin name is G. californianus. There is not enough beating around the bush to convince me this bird is pretty... but it is vital to the ecosystem. Thus, I have chosen to capture the California condor through my favorite “ugly” sounds, and it is a cacophonous romp.

a striking bird was written as part of Julia Kempf’s Young Artist Project, which uses new music inspired by the calls and sounds of endangered bird species to support their recovery and conservation efforts, University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music.