THE DEFIANT MAGPIE, For Viola and Piano

The Defiant Magpie was commissioned by the Alto Nova Duo (Emlyn Stam, viola / Sherry Grant, piano) to be premiered at the 2024 International Viola Congress in Brazil. This concert work is part of a lineage of pieces by the composer that draw primary inspiration from birds, specifically those native to Australia and their distinctive calls. The Defiant Magpie vividly depicts the Australian Magpie during its mating season and its defiant attempts to deter potential threats and oncoming danger. The victims of these sometimes passive, sometimes violent, and sometimes fatal attacks range from other birds to cyclists and unsuspecting people who set out for a pleasant jog or relaxing walk, only to find themselves anxiously deviating from their paths in an act of self-protection from the “Defiant Magpie”.

This work comes to life through its persistent pulsing rhythms, extensive chromaticism, and quartal harmonies, all hinting at a vivid and unstable free tonal character. Adding to the extensive palette of musical colors is the exploration and use of an extended registral spectrum in both the viola and the piano. The texture of the work is defined by both instruments taking on the roles of primary element against accompaniment, accompanimental backing for the other soloist, as well as through an intricate interplay between both soloists, challenged at all technical levels. This composition is a vivid example of musical painting and storytelling.