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Magpie Baby started with a child, a magpie, an unintelligible conversation, and a musical idea. It grew into a suite of 8 pieces, each expressing a new phase in the development of the toddler. Inspired by the music and a wish to share it with children, the musical story developed into a written one. The story is read to the child, either by the parent (from the book) or listened to on the cd. Between each page, the music brings the story to life in musical terms – soothing when a lullaby (Li’l Lullaby), unsteady when first sitting up (Wiggle Wobble), hectic when learning to run (Running Rampant). And because a child needs something to look at – some engaging illustrations. The magpie has a new role – as a connecting thread that oversees and observes the child, pointing out her accomplishments and achievements. It also signals other things – summer, Australia, and family. Eventually the magpie and its own family disperse and fly away – the child has gone (grownup) and the nostalgic song Memory Mine is heard. The child’s imprint extends to other aspects of the book – she has ‘coloured in’ the pages, she grows, and she leaves. Little asides in the text ask the adult to imagine what is happening ‘behind the scenes’. Full of subtlety in all its aspects, Magpie Baby is a book for adults as much as for children. It is really about children, and children like that! Magpie Baby is musical storytelling with an illustrated and written accompaniment analogous to Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals, but with a toddler as its subject, and directed at a younger age group. The book/cd contains music which is more complex than music written specifically for children, yet can be appreciated by children and adults of all ages. The music is written by Australian composer Nadje Noordhuis and is a development of Magpie Baby: A Children’s Suite from the cd Blue Skies, Magpies and Goldfish by Thoroughbass.
Diana is a musician living in Sydney. She plays an oldfashioned instrument called harpsichord. She has experience with concerts, recordings, operas, recitals, hospitals, farms, bush regeneration, parenting, sick children, well children, writing academic theses, but has never before written a childrens book. She is the director of the ensemble Thoroughbass, and commissioned and performed the music in Magpie Baby
