Devils of the Night
On this, his first CD for Move Records, Tasmanian composer and didjeridu virtuoso Ron Nagorcka is joined by long-time collaborator Robert Williams, the Melbourne pianist, educator and co-composer.
Robert Williams keyboard sampler, piano
Elizabeth Anderson harpsichord
Larry Polansky electric guitar, mandolin
Karlin Love soprano saxophone, clarinet
Rhys Boak pipe organ
David Scott Hamnes pipe organ
Geoffrey d'Ombrain flute
Ron Nagorcka is not only a didjeridu virtuoso, but one of Tasmania’s most important and distinctive contemporary composers. With his digital sampler he draws on the sounds of local wildlife and countryside, combining them with electronic manipulation and Pythagorean just intonation.
The cover and backcard artwork is by the acclaimed Tasmanian artist Philip Wolfhagen.
From the many Nagorcka–Williams didjeridu and sampler collaborations, to Elizabeth Anderson’s harpsichord in Zygodactyl Dance and Larry Polansky’s electric guitar in Mood from Lake Mungo, Devils of the Night offers an evening of listening not easily forgotten.
Reviews
sensuous rather than cerebral … most rewarding … the disc is strongly recommended.
beautiful harmonies … deeply satisfying … music that repays repeated listening.
… wondrous … the most Tasmanian [non-indigenous] music I have ever heard
… wonderful in the balancing of ecological sources and musical structures. Nagorcka has a very sensitive ear for nature …
brilliantly effective electronic manipulation … fascinating … unique
a variety of nocturnal fantasies … The constant and delightful thread of sounds weaving throughout this CD is the representation of animal, bird and environmental sounds. They keep the heart of the land always at the forefront of attention.
Artists

Ron Nagorcka
Ron Nagorcka has a long-held interest in the sounds of the Australian bush, especially its birds, electronics in music, and just intonation. His nature recordings from Tasmania and arid mainland Australia provide the basis for many of his compositions.

Robert Williams
Robert Williams has a long standing involvement with the performance and promotion of contemporary Australian music.His busy artistic life includes the co-ordination and direction of music festivals such as the Great Southern Sounds Festiva held at the National Gallery of Victoria (1995 / 6), working as a music journalist and critic, and restoring and rebuilding pianos.
Audio preview
Tracks
- Devils of the Night Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 6:27
- Zygodactyl Dance Ron Nagorcka 3:18
- Mood from Lake Mungo Ron Nagorcka 4:03
- Cockatoo Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 4:14
- About 3 Ron Nagorcka 3:31
- Noyenna Robert Williams 3:38
- Crow Chorale Ron Nagorcka 3:42
- Bunbundalui Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 3:16
- Dancing with the Organ-bird Ron Nagorcka 3:34
- Calamanthus Ron Nagorcka 2:46
- This Beauteous Wicked Place Ron Nagorcka 6:51
- The Frolicking Quoll Ron Nagorcka 1:42
- Tasmanian Toccata Ron Nagorcka 4:27
- [Original version] 1:24
- [Mandolin version] 1:13
- Galah Ron Nagorcka 5:33
- E-gypt Ron Nagorcka 3:00
- Tarranyennah Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 3:03
Prelude Ron Nagorcka
Performers
- Ron Nagorcka · didjeridu, keyboard sampler · tracks 1, 3–11, 13, 16–18
- Robert Williams · keyboard sampler, piano · tracks 1, 4, 6–9, 13, 14, 16 and 18
- Elizabeth Anderson · tracks 2 and 11
- Larry Polansky · electric guitar, mandolin · tracks 3 and 15
- Karlin Love · soprano saxophone, clarinet · tracks 12 and 17
- Rhys Boak · pipe organ · track 13
- David Scott Hamnes · pipe organ · track 5
- Geoffrey d'Ombrain · track 10
Composer

Larry Polansky
Larry Polansky is a composer, theorist, performer, software designer, teacher, writer, editor and publisher from New Hampshire, USA. He is the founder and co-director of Frog Peak Music (A Composers' Collective).
Where to listen
Devils of the Night is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Devils of the Night is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3259
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 65 minutes 42 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Koji Mii (tracks 3 and 15)
Martin Wright (all except tracks 3, 5, 12, 15 and 17)
Nicholas Cummings (tracks 5, 12 and 17)
Nobuhisa Shimoda (tracks 3 and 15) - Venue
- Move Records Studio (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–11, 14, 16 and 18)
St Johns Church, Launceston (track 12)
The Scots' Church, Melbourne (track 13) - Thanks to
- A & S Real-Time Recording
Creative Australia
Sarah Lloyd Fine Leather Clothing - Release date
- 2002
- Musical work
copyright - © 2002 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2002 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical, Keyboard
- Genres
- Contemporary Classical, Experimental
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574325928
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