VSO, Indigenous Council put a Coast Salish spin on one of French composer Saint-Saëns’s most popular works
Carnival of OUR Animals concert adds new music inspired by creatures of the Pacific Northwest
VSO Indigenous Council chair Councillor Dennis Thomas-Whonoak.
Composer and conductor William Rowson.
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with VSO Indigenous Council presents Carnival of OUR Animals , an OriginO Kids Concerts performance, on February 13 at 2 pm at the Orpheum Theatre and via livestream.
IT’S NOT THE Camille Saint-Saëns of 1886: Carnival of OUR Animals is a fresh take on the French composer’s famed composition. A collaboration between Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and VSO’s Indigenous Council, the OriginO Kids concert adds new music inspired by the animals of the Pacific Northwest.
The VSO’s Indigenous Council was created to build inclusion with the region’s host nations: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, as well as urban Indigenous populations and Metis peoples.
Composer and conductor William Rowson worked with knowledge keepers from each of the three host nations—elder Shane Pointe (Musqueam), Chen'áxwtn Swo-wo Gabriel (Squamish), and Gabriel George (Tsleil-Waututh)—to create an orchestral work based on animals of the Coast Salish territory: Thunderbird, Salish Woolly Dog, and Eagle. At the concert, the knowledge keepers will introduce the works, share stories, and describe the animals’ significance in Indigenous culture.
The concert premiered in the fall of 2021 for local elementary students and teachers.
“Music plays such a huge part in Indigenous cultures and we intend to incorporate Traditional songs and stories in collaboration with the VSO and the musicians to create one of a kind musical performances,” VSO Indigenous Council chair and Tsleil-Waututh Nation Councillor Dennis Thomas-Whonoak said in a release. “The Carnival of OUR Animals concert will be our first program together, musically introducing animals of the three host nations, inspired by the cultural knowledge keepers of each nation.”
More information is at Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
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