Gordon Duncan

For the Scottish flying ace, see Gordon Duncan (aviator).
Gordon Duncan
Born (1964-05-14)14 May 1964
Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Died 14 December 2005(2005-12-14) (aged 41)
Instruments Bagpipes

Gordon Duncan (14 May 1964 – 14 December 2005) was a bagpiper and composer, born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Early life

Duncan was born in Turriff on 14 May 1964 to tenant farmer Jock Duncan, well known as a bothy ballad singer, and his wife Frances.[1] Soon after Gordon's birth, Jock joined the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and moved to Pitlochry after a brief spell in Thurso.[1] Initially taught by his father, he 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.[2]

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

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.[2][4]

Duncan created a new style of idiosyncratic bagpipe music.[1] He also incorporated the bagpipes into a rendition of AC/DC's Thunderstruck.[2] 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.[5][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.[2][4][5]

He arranged music for the Vale of Atholl and ScottishPower pipe bands.[7][8]

Death

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.[4][6] He is survived by his mother and father, brother and two sisters, as well as his son, Gordon, and his wife, Mary.[1]

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][9][10][11]

Discography

He recorded three solo albums, and a further album was compiled after his death from previously recorded material.[7][12][13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gilchrist, Jim (20 December 2005). "Obituary: Gordon Duncan". The Scotsman. p. 33. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adams, Rob (22 December 2005). "Gordon Duncan; Renowned musician and composer". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 16. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 3 "Funeral of renowned piper who died at 41". Aberdeen Evening Express. 21 December 2005. p. 18.
  5. 1 2 McDonald, Graham (20 June 2001). "Night with piper far from highland fling". Canberra Times. Australia. p. 8.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. 1 2 "Gordon Duncan: 1964–2006.(Obituary)". Sing Out!. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2014 – via HighBeam. (subscription required (help)).
  8. ↑ "Gordon Duncan". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Gilchrist, Jim (20 September 2012). "Review : Folk, Jazz, Etc : Blowing up a storm in celebration of piper Duncan's legacy". The Scotsman. p. 10.
  10. ↑ Adams, Rob (26 September 2011). "A National Treasure V, Perth Concert Hall". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 17. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust". The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Just For Gordon (CD)". Foot Stompin' Celtic Music. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Gordon Duncan". Retrieved 13 April 2013.
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