Devils of the Night

On this, his first CD for Move Records, Nagorcka is joined by his long-time collaborator, the Melbourne-based pianist, educator and co-composer Robert Williams.

Ron Nagorcka is not only a didjeridu virtuoso, but is one of Tasmania's most important and distinctive contemporary composers. Armed with his digital sampler, Nagorcka is able to not only draw upon the sounds of the local wildlife and countryside but combine them with extraordinary electronic manipulation and Pythagorean just intonation.

The gorgeous 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 will provide an evening of listening you won't easily forget.

Artists

Ron Nagorcka

Ron Nagorcka has a long-held interest in the sounds of the Australian bush (in particular its birds), the use of electronics in music and the system of tuning known as just intonation. His recordings of nature in Tasmania and in the arid zones of 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.

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).

Karlin Love

Ever fascinated by audience-space-performer relationships, clarinettist/composer Karlin Love has been known to perform in art galleries, seedy pubs, woolsheds, wooded ravines, aircraft hangars and on barges.

Rhys Boak

Rhys Boak is one of Australia's busiest organists. He is in constant demand locally and internationally as both a recitalist and accompanist. He is currently the organist and manager of music at St. Michael's Church, Melbourne.

David Scott Hamnes

David Scott Hamnes now works as a consultant for church music and hymnody at the Liturgical Centre, Church of Norway, and is the Organist at Ilen church, Trondheim. He has composed works for organ and is currently working on a PhD degree on Australian organ music.

Geoffrey d'Ombrain

Geoffrey d'Ombrain now pursues his real musical passions: improvisation, composition and performimg. Flute playing is a central part of all this, as is the attraction of music derived from bird calls.

Elizabeth Anderson

Elizabeth Anderson has performed in no less than eleven international concert tours to Europe, Japan and Singapore. She is a regular guest lecturer and performer at universities and music schools throughout Australia.


Press quotes

“sensuous rather than cerebral ... most rewarding ... the disc is strongly recommended.”

— Peter Larsen, 3MBS FM Libretto

“beautiful harmonies ... deeply satisfying ... music that repays repeated listening.”

— Roz Cheney, Sounds Australian Journal

“... wondrous ... the most Tasmanian [non-indigenous] music I have ever heard”

— Peter Sculthorpe, Australian composer

“... wonderful in the balancing of ecological sources and musical structures. Nagorcka has a very sensitive ear for nature ...”

— Pauline Oliveros, New York

“brilliantly effective electronic manipulation ... fascinating ... unique”

— New Classics, UK

“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.”

— Elizabeth Scarlett, ArtStreams

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Devils of the Night Robert Williams Ron Nagorcka 6:24
  2. Zygodactyl Dance Ron Nagorcka 3:15
  3. Mood from Lake Mungo Ron Nagorcka 4:00
  4. Cockatoo Robert Williams Ron Nagorcka 4:11
  5. About 3 Ron Nagorcka 3:28
  6. Noyenna Robert Williams 3:38
  7. Crow Chorale Ron Nagorcka 3:43
  8. Bunbundalui Robert Williams Ron Nagorcka 3:13
  9. Dancing with the Organ-bird Ron Nagorcka 3:31
  10. Calamanthus Ron Nagorcka 2:43
  11. This Beauteous Wicked Place Ron Nagorcka 6:48
  12. The Frolicking Quoll Ron Nagorcka 1:39
  13. Tasmanian Toccata Ron Nagorcka 4:24
  14. Prelude (original version) Ron Nagorcka 1:21
  15. Prelude (mandolin vesion) [arr. Polansky] Ron Nagorcka 1:10
  16. Galah Ron Nagorcka 5:30
  17. E-gypt Ron Nagorcka 2:57
  18. Tarranyennah Robert Williams Ron Nagorcka 3:03

Composers

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.

Ron Nagorcka

Ron Nagorcka has a long-held interest in the sounds of the Australian bush (in particular its birds), the use of electronics in music and the system of tuning known as just intonation. His recordings of nature in Tasmania and in the arid zones of mainland Australia provide the basis for many of his compositions.


Availability

Devils of the Night can be purchased online through Buywell Just Classical or the Australian Music Centre who both offer secure online ordering.

This title is also available in (or can be ordered through) many fine music retailers across Australia, including Thomas’, Discurio and Readings.

Product details

List price
$26.00 AUD
Total playing time
64 minutes 58 seconds
Categories
Australian, Classical, Keyboard
Catalogue number
MD 3259
Alternate catalogue number
MD3259
Barcode
EAN 9314574325928