Every person who has something unique to offer should get a web-page from me (as long as I have enough space left off course).
This man is really worth having a fan-page by me.
He was able to free some emotions during the listen to his last album.
Darragh Nagle's two first projects (only on tape) have strong moments with a full acoustic band (and added female vocals). The mood is almost pastoral. If you are into Mellow Candle-like items, Midwinter and so on you should try these tapes too. (I hope one of the progressive folk labels would like to publish both albums on a CD one day ; they ought to be rediscovered).
"Live at Heartland Festival" really is another, different sensitive beauty. Although mostly with guitar only, some sparse other instruments, the still has an effect with a warmth I rarely experienced before.
Only his release "The Land of Fairie" is really different. This is composed for a lot of instruments but it's played with synth only this is more comming close to New Age sounds now. It presents a musical travel into Fairie land.
Discography :
Star Rider Rec.
Darragh Nagle and Derek Fuller : Dragon Dreams (1989) **°°
Star Rider Rec.
Darragh & Cerridwen (with Bart Green,Tom Parrot) : Starcrystal (1988)**°°
Star Rider Rec.
Darragh Nagle : the land of Fairie (1995)** ?
Star Rider Music
Darragh : Live at Heartland Festival (1999)****°
Darragh had also had close contact with Gwydion. Look at these pages too.
At that page you will find also the text of a song written as a tribute for Gwydion, connecting both personalities to in a special way.
Some words about "Starcrystal" from the Songbook.
Starcrystal was recorded by Cerridwen and myself in 1982, in Albuquerque New Mexico. The photos on the cover (one of them is the top picture on this page) show us at the Beltame festiyal, held at Beltaine grove in the forest on the north side of Sandia peak. The festival consisted of a day of merriment and celebration of life, which began with the preparations for placing the maypole into the Earth and readying the ribbons for the winding of the maypole. The people would process trough the meadow with the pole, then erect it and place it into the earth, filling with soil and tamping it down to make the pole steady.
The ceremony began with a drama, the Queene of Faerie calling the life spirits from the woods. The traditional hobby horse, green man, and the fool were all in attendance as the spirits emerged from the wood, clad in all matter of, well, woodsy stuff. The Queen then called for the return of her King, and the King returned and was reunited with her in the circle. They then blessed and shared the bread and cardamom May wine (non-alcoholic was also available) with all around the maypole. They passed out the ribbons such that the women would wind in one direction, and the men in the other. Children were included. As the ribbons were wound, we chanted "It is the month of May-O! It is the month of May-O! Hello, dear friend, we'll meet again, in the month of May-O!" The ribbons began to weave their colourful mesh from the top of the pole downward, and as the ribbons approached the bottom the spirits and cheering rose, until finally the King of Faerie gathered the remaining short ribbons and tied them in a not at the pole, and cheering and throwing of flowers creschendoed into a mighty cheer from the crowd.
A day of feasting and merriment followed, with couples wandering into the woods to go a-Maying. Drummers and musicians filled the meadow with songs, dancers danced moorish dances and faerie dances, adventures were undertaken, and children were treated to activities including face painting, costume contests, and arts & crafts.
At dusk came the final ceremony of the day, the lighting of the balefire on the hill. More songs were sung, and people jumped over the fire to bring luck for the coming year. Couples made it a point to jump over together. With each jump, the crowd cheered. The merry revellers put out the fire, cleaned the site and went home happy and content.
The songs from the Starcrystal tape, particularly "The Changeling", are about this festival and these people, expressing joy and love for each other and the Earth.
About the other recordings you can find more information about them at :
Information, reviews about two of his albums you find at
