Gordon Duncan (piper)
| Gordon Duncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 14, 1964 Turriff, Aberdeenshire |
| Died | December 14, 2005 (aged 41) |
| Instruments | Bagpipes |
Gordon Duncan (May 14, 1964 – December 14, 2005) was a bagpiper and composer, born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire. He composed over one hundred tunes in his lifetime, with perhaps his most famous work, Andy Renwick's Ferret, being performed and recorded internationally.[1][2][3][4]
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Early life [edit]
Born in Turriff, Duncan moved with his family to Pitlochry as a young child. He began his piping career at the age of 10, winning many junior competitions under the tuition of Walter Drysdale,[3] but started to lose interest in competition piping by the age of 18, at which point he was an apprentice joiner.[1]
Career [edit]
He attracted attention from folk bands, touring the US and Europe with the Tannahill Weavers, Wolfstone and Ceolbeg and became associated with Dougie MacLean, playing low whistle on his albums.[1][5] He began composing soon afterwards, having travelled across Europe and been exposed to other traditions, especially Breton music.[1]
He also performed with the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and the Atholl Highlanders, as well as being signed by Greentrax as a solo artist.[1][2]
Duncan created a new style of idiosyncratic bagpipe music.[3] He also incorporated the bagpipes into a rendition of AC/DC's Thunderstruck.[1] His work was heard at T in the Park, Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours in Canada, the Lorient festival in Brittany, where he was the two-time winner of the MacAllan Trophy and the Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland.[4][6]
He worked as a refuse collector and was known to scribble compositions on cigarette packets whilst at work.[3]
Death [edit]
In 2005, after a long struggle with alcoholism, Duncan committed suicide; his funeral was held at Pitlochry Church of Scotland and was attended by hundreds of pipers.[2][6] He is survived by his mother and father, brother and two sisters, as well as his son, Gordon, and his wife, Mary.[3]
Since 2007 an annual A National Treasure concert has been staged in Perth by the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, with the BBC airing the 2011 concert.[6][7][8][9]
Discography [edit]
- Just for Seumas (1994)
- Circular Breath (1997)
- Thunderstruck (2003)
- Just for Gordon (2007) - (Posthumous Compilation)[10]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Adams, Rob (22 December 2005). "Gordon Duncan; Renowned musician and composer". The Herald (Glasgow). p. 16. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ a b c "Funeral of renowned piper who died at 41". Aberdeen Evening Express. 21 December 2005. p. 18.
- ^ a b c d e Gilchrist, Jim (20 December 2005). "Obituary: Gordon Duncan". The Scotsman. p. 33. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ a b McDonald, Graham (20 June 2001). "Night with piper far from highland fling". Canberra Times (Australia). p. 8.
- ^ Adams, Rob (13 December 1990). "THEATRE / Brand new bag; Rob Adams reports on attempts to breathe new life into an ancient tradition". The Independent (London). p. 14.
- ^ a b c English, Spaul (31 December 2011). "Just for Gordon Sunday, BBC Alba, Pipers' Champion; Piper was Regarded as One of the Most Innovative Performers and Composers". Daily Record. pp. 16–17.
- ^ Gilchrist, Jim (20 September 2012). "Review : Folk, Jazz, Etc : Blowing up a storm in celebration of piper Duncan's legacy". The Scotsman. p. 10.
- ^ Adams, Rob (26 September 2011). "A National Treasure V, Perth Concert Hall". The Herald (Glasgow). p. 17. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ "The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust". The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ "Gordon Duncan". Retrieved 13 April 2013.
