Ensemble Offspring: Songbirds

Sydney’s musical mavericks Ensemble Offspring present a surprising and beguiling collection of highlights from their 2020 album Songbirds in Melbourne and Noosa. An intimate trio setting brings together an array of original chamber works by the who’s-who of Australian composers, capturing the calls and songs of Australia’s birds to create something unique, engaging and exciting!

As birdsong drifts in on the summer breeze, flute, clarinet and percussion take inspiration from the weird and wonderful sounds of the Australian bush. Gerard Brophy’s impressive Beautiful Birds is joined by beguiling pied butcher bird song from Hollis Taylor and Jon Rose alongside a blackbird-inspired work from Kate Moore. Songbirds is a journey into nature through an intimate instrumental chamber setting.

“Expertly melding found-sound recordings with live electronics and extended techniques, Lamorna Nightingale (flute), Jason Noble (clarinet) and Claire Edwardes (vibraphone) bring to life the sounds of some of Australia’s finest composers and most recognisable fauna.” – Jessie Cunniffe, The Sydney Morning Herald

“A beautifully conceived and richly rewarding album that is most worthy of 25th-anniversary celebrations for this consistently excellent ensemble.” – Lisa MacKinney, Limelight

Program:
Fiona Loader – Lorikeet Corroboree (2015)
Hollis Taylor and Jon Rose – Bitter Springs Creek 2014 (2019)
Brenda Gifford – Mungala (2019)
Jane Stanley – Desert Rose (2010)
Felicity Wilcox – People of this Place (2016)
Nardi Simpson – Of Stars and Birds (2020)
Gerard Brophy – Beautiful Birds (2019)

Performers:
Claire Edwardes (percussion)
Lamorna Nightingale (flute)
Jason Noble (clarinet)