Tasmanian composer Ron Nagorcka doesn’t remember a time when music wasn’t in his life.
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He grew up in a musical household and was interested in composing music at a young age.
However, it took a university composition class for Nagorcka to take his creations seriously.
“The first thing [my lecturer] said was ‘ok, where’s your composition?’ He didn’t tell us how to write music … we just looked at him blankly so he said ‘ok, I’ll see you next week’.”
While it might have been a daunting start to the class, but it signalled the start of his musical career.
The lecturer taught him a valuable lesson that if he could not write something original, there was no point writing at all, Nagorcka said.
It was his lecturer who also encouraged him to try playing the didgeridoo.
The didgeridoo was a drone instrument, so it only played one note, he said.
That put limitations on what he could compose for the instrument in some ways, but it also gave him opportunities in others.
“In indigenous culture, the didgeridoo is almost like a drum kit, it’s sets the rhythm of the piece.”
The rhythmic complexity was an area Nagorcka explored in his compositions, which have been performed around the world.
It was not uncommon for classical players, when they first considered his compositions, to say “they’re completely doing my head in”.
For the musicians out there, Nagorcka said sometimes the scales he used had 43 notes in the octave.
Nagorcka enjoyed finding the “missing notes”, which were all the musical notes found in the space between the traditional sounds.
He was careful to avoid cultural appropriation in his compositions.
“I used to ask for permission to play the didgeridoo in public.”
The didgeridoo he bought in 1972 will appear in a performance this month to celebrate his 70th birthday.
When Nagorcka began considering what he would do for his birthday, he decided to stick with what he’d enjoy.
"If I'm going to organise something, I'd rather organise a concert than a party."
Instead of party poppers and balloons, Nagorcka will premiere seven new works and revisit a classic from the 70s.
“I’m classically trained, but very often even reviewers will say this music is hard to categorise, it’s hard to put in a box.”
The performance later this month will include piper David Scott Hamnes, guitarist Karlin Greenstreet Love, and double bassist Dan Robinson.
For people who weren’t sure about coming along, Nagorcka said his distinct music had universal appeal.
“I think you’ll like it.”
- All New Nagorcka will be performed on January 27 at City Baptist Church in Launceston from 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door for $25 for adults or $15 for concession, cash only.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
