Gordon Duncan Explained

Gordon Duncan
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Date:1964 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death Place:Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland
Occupation:Musician, composer
Instrument:Bagpipes, low whistle

Gordon Duncan (14 May 1964 – 14 December 2005) was a Scottish bagpiper, low whistle player and composer.

Early life

Duncan was born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire on 14 May 1964. His parents were tenant farmer and bothy ballad singer Jock Duncan and Frances Duncan. Jock Duncan joined the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board shortly after Duncan's birth and the family moved to Thurso then to Pitlochry.[1] Initially taught by his father, Gordon began his piping career at the age of 10, winning many junior competitions under the tuition of Walter Drysdale,[1] but started to lose interest in competition piping by the age of 18, at which point he was an apprentice joiner.

Career

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.[2] He began composing soon afterwards, having travelled across Europe and been exposed to other traditions, especially Breton music.

He was a very influential piper who broke the boundaries of traditional piping music.[3] He was a member of the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and also performed with the Atholl Highlanders, as well as being signed by Greentrax as a solo artist. Duncan also taught pipers Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, who have went on to have musical careers with some acclaim.[4] [5]

Duncan created a new style of idiosyncratic bagpipe music.[1] He also incorporated the bagpipes into a rendition of AC/DC's Thunderstruck. 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.[6]

He worked as a refuse collector and was known to scribble compositions on cigarette packets whilst at work.[1]

Compositions

Duncan composed over one hundred tunes in his lifetime, with perhaps his most famous work, Andy Renwick's Ferret, being performed and recorded internationally.[7] [8] [9]

He arranged music for the Vale of Atholl and ScottishPower pipe bands.[10] [11]

Death

On 14 December 2005, Duncan was found dead at his home in Perthshire following a long struggle with alcoholism.[1] His funeral was held at Pitlochry Church of Scotland and was attended by hundreds of pipers.[8] [6] In his memory, the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust[12] was set up early in 2006 to support good causes in piping.[13]

In 2007, A National Treasure concert was staged in Perth by the Trust, and for the following four years, with the BBC airing the 2011 concert.[6] [14] [15] In January 2016, a gig was at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections.[16]

Personal life

He had a wife, Mary, and a son, Gordon, two sisters, and his brother, Ian Duncan, is also a piper.

Discography

He recorded three solo albums, and a further album was compiled after his death from previously recorded material.[10] [17] [18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gilchrist . Jim . Obituary: Gordon Duncan . The Scotsman . 33 . 20 December 2005 . 7 April 2022.
  2. News: Adams . Rob . THEATRE / Brand new bag; Rob Adams reports on attempts to breathe new life into an ancient tradition . The Independent . London . 14 . 13 December 1990.
  3. News: Young pipers heading off in new directions . The Scotsman . 15 August 2005 . 27 December 2016.
  4. News: Remembering the man who reinvented the pipes . Rob . Adams . The Herald . 8 January 2016 . 13 August 2024 . subscription.
  5. News: Acclaimed piper Ross Ainslie opens up about wild tours, mental health and the loss of his inspirational mentor . Polly . Pullar . . 17 February 2022 . 13 August 2024.
  6. News: English . Spaul . Just for Gordon Sunday, BBC Alba, Pipers' Champion; Piper was Regarded as One of the Most Innovative Performers and Composers . Daily Record . 16–17 . 31 December 2011.
  7. News: Adams . Rob . Gordon Duncan; Renowned musician and composer . The Herald . Glasgow . 16 . 22 December 2005 . 27 December 2016.
  8. News: Funeral of renowned piper who died at 41 . Aberdeen Evening Express . 18 . 21 December 2005.
  9. News: McDonald . Graham . Night with piper far from highland fling . Canberra Times . Australia . 8 . 20 June 2001.
  10. News: Gordon Duncan: 1964–2006.(Obituary) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140629085908/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143213414.html . dead . 29 June 2014 . 22 March 2006 . 20 May 2014 . Sing Out! . .
  11. Web site: Allmusic . Gordon Duncan . 13 April 2013.
  12. Web site: The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust . The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust . 13 April 2013.
  13. Letford, Stuart (14 December, 2021). "Famous pipers: Gordon Duncan", NPC Bagpipe News. Retrieved 15 Aug. 2024.
  14. News: Gilchrist . Jim . Review : Folk, Jazz, Etc : Blowing up a storm in celebration of piper Duncan's legacy . The Scotsman . 10 . 20 September 2012 . 27 December 2016.
  15. News: Adams . Rob . A National Treasure V, Perth Concert Hall . The Herald . Glasgow . 17 . 26 September 2011 . 13 April 2013.
  16. News: Celtic Connections 2016: Director Donald Shaw picks 10 highlights . BBC News . 14 January 2016.
  17. Web site: Just For Gordon (CD) . Foot Stompin' Celtic Music . 20 May 2014.
  18. Web site: Gordon Duncan . . 13 April 2013.