Miriam Hyde: Magpies At Sunrise

Abstract

In 1946 my mother quoted in a letter a fragment of magpie warble, heard in her garden in Adelaide. Magpies at Sunrise is based on that fragment. The opening motive of six notes is developed extensively, with occasional cadenzas in the upper register. One can also imagine two calls of a whip bird lashing through the stillness. This is probably as Australian in atmosphere as any of my piano works. I sent it to my parents for their wedding anniversary in that year. Show more