{{Short description|Scottish musician (1964–2005)}} {{For|the Scottish flying ace|Gordon Duncan (aviator)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Gordon Duncan | image = | alt = | caption = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1964|05|14}} | birth_place = Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | origin = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|12|14|1964|05|14}} | death_place = Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland | genre = | occupation = Musician, composer | instrument = Bagpipes, low whistle | years_active = | label = | website = }}
'''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.<ref name="Scotsman"/> Jock Duncan joined the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board shortly after Duncan's birth and the family moved to Thurso then to Pitlochry.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Jim |title=Obituary: Gordon Duncan |newspaper=The Scotsman |page=33 |date=20 December 2005 |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/gordon-duncan-2469204 |accessdate=7 April 2022}}</ref> 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,<ref name="Scotsman"/> but started to lose interest in competition piping by the age of 18, at which point he was an apprentice joiner.<ref name="Herald"/>
==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.<ref name="Herald"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Rob |title=THEATRE / Brand new bag; Rob Adams reports on attempts to breathe new life into an ancient tradition |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |page=14 |date=13 December 1990}}</ref> He began composing soon afterwards, having travelled across Europe and been exposed to other traditions, especially Breton music.<ref name="Herald"/>
He was a very influential piper who broke the boundaries of traditional piping music.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/young-pipers-heading-off-in-new-directions-1-1402380 |title=Young pipers heading off in new directions |work=The Scotsman |date=15 August 2005 |accessdate=27 December 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Herald"/><ref name="Aberdeen"/> Duncan also taught pipers Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, who have gone on to have musical careers with some acclaim.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/14183588.remembering-man-reinvented-pipes/ |title=Remembering the man who reinvented the pipes |first=Rob |last=Adams |work=The Herald |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=13 August 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/ross-ainslie |title=Acclaimed piper Ross Ainslie opens up about wild tours, mental health and the loss of his inspirational mentor |first=Polly |last=Pullar |work=The Sunday Post |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
Duncan created a new style of idiosyncratic bagpipe music.<ref name="Scotsman"/> He also incorporated the bagpipes into a rendition of AC/DC's Thunderstruck.<ref name="Herald"/> 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.<ref name="Canberra"/><ref name="Record">{{cite news |last=English |first=Spaul |title=Just for Gordon Sunday, BBC Alba, Pipers' Champion; Piper was Regarded as One of the Most Innovative Performers and Composers |newspaper=Daily Record |pages=16–17 |date=31 December 2011}}</ref>
He worked as a refuse collector and was known to scribble compositions on cigarette packets whilst at work.<ref name="Scotsman"/>
==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.<ref name="Herald">{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Rob |title=Gordon Duncan; Renowned musician and composer |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |page=16 |date=22 December 2005 |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12447722.Gordon_Duncan_Renowned_musician_and_composer/ |accessdate=27 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Aberdeen">{{cite news |title=Funeral of renowned piper who died at 41 |newspaper=Aberdeen Evening Express |page=18 |date=21 December 2005}}</ref><ref name="Canberra">{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Graham |title=Night with piper far from highland fling |newspaper=Canberra Times |location=Australia |page=8 |date=20 June 2001}}</ref>
He arranged music for the Vale of Atholl and ScottishPower pipe bands.<ref name=sing>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143213414.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629085908/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143213414.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2014 |title=Gordon Duncan: 1964–2006.(Obituary) |date=22 March 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2014 |work=Sing Out! |via=HighBeam }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Allmusic |title=Gordon Duncan |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gordon-duncan-mn0000663372/discography |accessdate=13 April 2013}}</ref>
==Death== On 14 December 2005, Duncan was found dead at his home in Perthshire following a long struggle with alcoholism.<ref name="Scotsman"/> His funeral was held at Pitlochry Church of Scotland and was attended by hundreds of pipers.<ref name="Aberdeen"/><ref name="Record"/> In his memory, the ''Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust''<ref name="trust">{{cite web |url=http://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/ |title=The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust |publisher=The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust |accessdate=13 April 2013}}</ref> was set up early in 2006 to support good causes in piping.<ref>Letford, Stuart (14 December 2021). "[https://bagpipe.news/2021/12/14/famous-pipers-gordon-duncan/ Famous pipers: Gordon Duncan]", ''NPC Bagpipe News''. Retrieved 15 Aug. 2024.</ref>
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.<ref name="trust" /><ref name="Record"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Jim |title=Review : Folk, Jazz, Etc : Blowing up a storm in celebration of piper Duncan's legacy |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/folk-jazz-etc-blowing-up-a-storm-in-celebration-of-piper-duncan-s-legacy-1-2536803 |newspaper=The Scotsman |page=10 |date=20 September 2012 |accessdate=27 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Rob |title=A National Treasure V, Perth Concert Hall |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |page=17 |date=26 September 2011 |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13037075.A_National_Treasure_V__Perth_Concert_Hall/ |accessdate=13 April 2013}}</ref> In January 2016, a gig was at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-35303271 |title=Celtic Connections 2016: Director Donald Shaw picks 10 highlights |work=BBC News |date=14 January 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== He had a wife, Mary, and a son, Gordon, two sisters, and his brother, Ian Duncan, is also a piper.<ref name="Scotsman" />
==Discography== He recorded three solo albums, and a further album was compiled after his death from previously recorded material.<ref name=sing/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footstompin.com/cd-gordon-duncan-just-for-gordon-cd |title=Just For Gordon (CD) |publisher=Foot Stompin' Celtic Music |accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gordon Duncan |website=AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gordon-duncan-mn0000663372 |accessdate=13 April 2013}}</ref> * ''Just for Seumas'' (1994) * ''Circular Breath'' (1997) * ''Thunderstruck'' (2003) * ''Just for Gordon'' (2007)
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/ Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust] * {{YouTube|Y-UCdslwnk8|Just For Gordon / Dha Gordon a-mhain}} (BBC Alba documentary on Gordon Duncan's life) * {{YouTube|_EwDlUHoDFo|Thunderstruck – Gordon Duncan}} * {{YouTube|2n43QhT2-rY|Sleeping Tune played by Stuart Cassells}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Gordon}} Category:1964 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Great Highland bagpipe players Category:The Tannahill Weavers members Category:Wolfstone members Category:People from Turriff Category:Scottish tin whistle players Category:Scottish bagpipe players Category:Alcohol-related deaths in Scotland Category:20th-century Scottish male composers Category:21st-century Scottish male composers Category:21st-century Scottish composers