Robert Davidson – Magpie Riff (2024)

Ensemble Offspring presents Magpie Riff from Bird Riffs by Robert Davidson, recorded at The Church on Sunday 13 October 2024.

Robert Davidson – Magpie Riff (2024)*
flute, bass clarinet, vibraphone, backing track

*World Premiere performance at Songbirds Music in the Regions Tour 2024

Commissioned by Ensemble Offspring.

"Each morning and afternoon, I get to hang out with magpies on my balcony - a group of three we like to call "the teenagers". They make a splendid sound; it's one of my favourite sounds that exists. I remember the excellent Melbourne composer Warren Burt telling me the reason he originally moved to Australia from his home in San Diego. On his first landing in Australia, he got off the plane and heard a magpie, and immediately said "I've got to move here. I want to live in a country where the birds sound like synthesisers!" (or words to that effect).

Magpie riff uses two short phrases, looped throughout the music, picking out a catchy riff from a magpie in an Australian front yard (trying to eat some cheese on the ground), with some percussion added to keep everyone together with the recording." – Robert Davidson

Performers
Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, vibraphone)
Lamorna Nightingale (flute)
Jason Noble (bass clarinet)

Video and Audio by David Theak (view maestro)

© Ensemble Offspring 2024

https://www.ensembleoffspring.com/

Ensemble Offspring is assisted by the NSW government through Create NSW.

We work and play on Gadigal land.