Charles Nagel Charles Nagel i(A26428 works by) (a.k.a. C. Nagel)
Born: Established: 1806 ; Died: Ceased: 1870 Liverpool, Liverpool area, Sydney Southwest, Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: Oct 1837
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
2 2 The Banner of Old England The Banner of Old England, a Song Dedicated to the Blue and Red Jackets by an Old Soldier i "The Banner of Old England! - that in doughty days of yore", Charles Nagel , 1845 single work lyric/song
— Appears in: The Atlas , 10 May vol. 1 no. 24 1845; (p. 281) Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser , 31 May 1845; (p. 4)
1 1 y separately published work icon Oh! for the Olden Time, Song : King Charles : From the Historical Operatic Drama of Merry Freaks in Troublous Times i "Oh! for the olden time,", Charles Nagel , Isaac Nathan (composer), Sydney London : Hibernian Press Falkner , 1845 Z1673351 1845 lyric/song
1 1 y separately published work icon Sweet Smiles and Bright Eyes : Song : King Charles i "Ah! why must it then be,", Charles Nagel , Isaac Nathan (composer), Z1673021 1845 single work lyric/song
2 6 y separately published work icon Merry Freaks in Troublous Times : An Historical Operatic Drama in Two Acts Charles Nagel , Isaac Nathan (composer), 1843 Sydney : Charles Nagel , 1843 Z1756555 1843 single work musical theatre opera

Comic opera.

'The plot commences after the defeat of Charles II at the battle of Worcester, whence the King and Rochester escape under the assumed names of Jacob Tompkins and Peregrine Samson. The first act exhibited their "Merry Freaks" at the seat of Sir Henry Milford in which they are assisted by that indispensable hero of Comic Opera, a mischievous page who becomes instrumental in the King's safe escape to the continent. The second act takes the narrative several years hence, opening with Charles' small court of exiled Royalists in Holland. An under-current of that "course of true love which never does run smooth," flows in sinuous windings through the piece which, in its denouement, terminates at Milord Hall, whither the King and his faithful adherents return previous to the Restoration' (Australian Journal 29 May 1843, p2).

The opera is also said to have humorously portrayed and contrasted the characteristics of the Cavaliers and Puritans of that age.
1 1 y separately published work icon Shakspericonglommorofunnidogammoniae Charles Nagel , Sydney : W. A. Duncan , 1843 Z859567 1843 single work musical theatre burlesque humour

Burletta (in one act).

Advertised as an 'original, laughable, comical, operatical, tragical [and] melodramatical burletta' and described as a 'musical extravaganza', Shakespericonglommorofunnidogammoniae takes several of Shakespeare's characters and presents them in what is essentially a satirical exposé on the economic state of New South Wales, particularly the effects of the 1843 depression. The characters include those from some of Shakespeare's best-known plays: Hamlet, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, and Richard III. Written in verse, it also included many comic re-writes of popular songs. Margaret Williams, in Australia on the Popular Stage, notes that 'the local allusions are charmingly woven into a fantasy world where Ophelia is a dairy-maid, and Hamlet's duel with Falstaff over Anne Page is prevented by an Irish ghost named Pat Carey' (p.22).

The musical content comprised dances and popular airs of the day. The lyrics to these songs were either wholly or partly rewritten by Charles Nagel.
1 1 y separately published work icon The Pretty Bark Hut in the Bush Charles Nagel , Charles Nagel (composer), 1842 Sydney : Rolfe , 1842 Z1794162 1842 single work lyric/song Described in a review in the Australasian Chronicle (14 May 1842): 2 as 'a genuine Australian song, and the subject of it is neither more nor less than a pretty maid who wants to run away with her sweetheart to a hut in the " far bush," and leave her father and mother ...'
1 1 y separately published work icon It Was But a Dream Charles Nagel , Charles Nagel (composer), 1842 Sydney : Rolfe , 1842 Z1794159 1842 single work lyric/song
1 1 y separately published work icon Farewell Address to the Twenty-Eighth Regiment on Their Departure to India i "To-night Mock Catalani reappears", Charles Nagel , Sydney : 1842 Z1637666 1842 single work poetry
1 6 y separately published work icon The Mock Catalani in Little Puddleton : A Musical Burletta in One Act The Sham Catalani in Little Puddleton Charles Nagel , Charles Nagel (composer), 1842 1842 (Manuscript version)x400046 Z816494 1842 single work musical theatre burlesque humour

Burletta (in one act).

The plot revolves around William (a music teacher) and Captain O'Leary (commander of the troops at Little Puddleton), who are both competing for the hand of the mayor's daughter, Fanny Dobbs. Against her father's preference, Fanny chooses William. The mayor and Captain O'Leary pledge that they will accept the situation only if it should happen that one day they both go down on their knees and kiss William's hand. A short time later, the mayor receives a letter informing him of the imminent visit to the town of Catalini, an Italian prima donna. Upon her arrival, the diva is naturally greeted in a most flattering manner, two of the most respectful being (naturally) Mayor Dobbs and Captain O'Leary, who both salute the diva's extended hand on their bended knees. At this point, Catalini throws off her wig and clothing to reveal herself as William. He and Fanny are forthwith married and 'so we conclude, at least live happily for the rest of their lives'. A theatre critic writing for the New South Wales Examiner proposed in his review that not only was the burletta's story 'its least recommendation', but also that the plot device concerning the pledge was 'most improbable' (11 May 1842, p.3).
X