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.
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 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.
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
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.
Audio preview
Track Listing
- Devils of the Night Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 6:24
- Zygodactyl Dance Ron Nagorcka 3:15
- Mood from Lake Mungo Ron Nagorcka 4:00
- Cockatoo Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 4:11
- About 3 Ron Nagorcka 3:28
- Noyenna Robert Williams 3:38
- Crow Chorale Ron Nagorcka 3:43
- Bunbundalui Ron Nagorcka Robert Williams 3:13
- Dancing with the Organ-bird Ron Nagorcka 3:31
- Calamanthus Ron Nagorcka 2:43
- This Beauteous Wicked Place Ron Nagorcka 6:48
- The Frolicking Quoll Ron Nagorcka 1:39
- Tasmanian Toccata Ron Nagorcka 4:24
- [Original version] 1:21
- [Mandolin version] 1:10
- Galah Ron Nagorcka 5:30
- E-gypt Ron Nagorcka 2:57
- 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
- 64 minutes 58 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–11, 14, 16 and 18)
- Venue
- Move Records Studio (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–11, 14, 16 and 18)
- Thanks to
- A & S Real-Time Recording
Australia Council
Sarah Lloyd Fine Leather Clothing - Release date
- 2002
- Musical work
copyright - © 2002 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2002 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Classical, Keyboard
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574325928
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