Nat Bartsch’s Lullabies: Forever Together

- About the Work
- Touring & Tech
- Marketing & Engagement
An inclusive, heart-warming, peaceful suite of lullabies for everyone.
Synopsis
IN 2017, Melbourne pianist/composer Nat Bartsch became a mother, and decided to turn her peaceful, melodic piano aesthetic into music with purpose. She composed a suite of lullabies, Forever, and No Time At All, which was released in 2018 on ABC Classic. Influenced by music therapy research, Nat’s simple piano pieces are designed for parents to enjoy with their babies, as they drift off to sleep. The album has greatly exceeded its aim: not only is it enjoyed by families, but people from all walks of life – accompanying moments as intimate as birth and death; and supporting people experiencing disability, neurodiversity, grief, mental illness and stress. Her lullabies have been streamed more than 4 million times across the world.
Now is the time for the next stage of her lullaby project: Forever Together. These new lullabies speak to new experiences in Nat’s life as a mother: the deeply connected experience of covid-19 lockdowns as a family; and the realisation that she is an autistic parent. Whilst her first lullaby album was designed to support parents and babies (and everyone else); these lullabies are designed with the neurodivergent community in mind. Relaxed performances will be the centre point of this tour, not an add-on. Meaningful engagement with disabled advocates and neurodivergent families are shaping the concert design. Sensory video projections, beanbags or sensory swings, fidgets, colouring in book packs, social stories are all a part of the show.
Additionally, Nat is able to perform evening shows as an add-on at the same venue (for example, her ARIA-nominated classical album Hope, which addresses climate change and the Black Summer bushfires).
Short Reviews
Ron Schepper/Textura
Jessica Nicholas/The Age
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Video
Additional Videos
Technical Information
Lighting
Low ambient lighting (blues/purples) on stage
Low house lighting during performance (not off)
Visual projection video provided by artist (70 min) to run on loop
Audio
Artist to provide schertler contact mic for live ambient electronic processing via Ableton
Require 2-3 inputs from interface (effects L-R, bass)
Venue to mic piano as required for the space/to mix with effects (DPAs x 2 preferred).
Piano tuning prior to performance required.
Show can be performed acoustic solo if venue has limited tech.
Staging
Grand piano with adjustable stool
Table for laptop/electronics set up
Beanbags, rugs, cushions scattered around piano (if in the round)
Optional: sensory swings rigged around edge of the performance space (more on this later)
Transport Notes
Depending on use of sensory swings by the venues; station wagon or kia carnival
Audience & Marketing Notes
Pre-existing lullaby fans: I have slowly developed a beloved audience of listeners, often young families, who play my lullabies every day as part of their family’s lives. There might be a few of these fans in each town already!
Parents and babies: young families who would love to take their child/ren to see a piano concert for the very first time.
Neurodivergent and disabled community: people who require access to a performance in a relaxed setting, particularly those who might find peaceful music very regulating.
Baby boomers/ABC listeners: since the release of my first lullaby album I have developed a strong ABC listenership, especially Classic Drive/Breakfast; ABC Melbourne afternoons/evenings, The Music Show on RN; ABC jazz.
Seniors: when I do a daytime lullaby concert for families, there are also often some older people there too, who are keen for a daytime concert experience.
Classical/jazz music lovers: people who will appreciate my compositional and improvisational skills more than the average young family. They might have Keith Jarrett’s albums at home, or tune into Jazztrack with Mal Stanley. They might play piano themselves.
Selling Points
- It is a concert where children, disabled and neurodivergent people can enjoy music and be themselves.
- It is an, accessible, intergenerational classical piano concert. A chance for grandparents, parents and children to appreciate music together.
- It furthers the conversation about the strengths, special skills and unique needs of autistic people. Nat is a proudly autistic performer/composer, and newly diagnosed.
- Nat is the first female artist to be ARIA-nominated in both jazz and classical categories (two years in a row).
- Nat's lullabies are played across the lifespan, from the birthing suite to the final hours of life.
- Nat's lullabies have been streamed more than 4 million times across the world.
Community Engagement
Details
Genre
Audience
Family, seniors, neoclassical
Venue Format
In the round or theatre
Duration
50 minutes Minutes
Available Until (from - to)
31/12/2023
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.In Development - work which will be produced and premiered in time for touring during 2022/2023. Please contact the Producer directly for Budgets and Fees.
Remount: $N/A
Weekly Sell Off: $N/A
Per Performance: $3000