Remembering Gordon Duncan

Gordon Duncan was a genius

2006-01-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

From The Herald...

"Genius is a much overused term these days, but it's not overstating the case to say that, in his fearlessly innovative approach to playing the bagpipes and in his ability to compose memorable music, Gordon Duncan was a genius..."

Read the rest of the detailed obituary here.

Loss of a Rock Star

2005-12-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

The Voice has a little tribute to Gordon on their blog page.

"Gordon Duncan’s untimely passing is a blow both to bagpiping and to celtic music. Duncan was a rare sort, one of a few traditional musicians who made their mark and gained world renown by way of the Highland bagpipe, and the closest thing piping had to a rock star.'"

How very true.

Read the rest of his comments here.

Reporting the news

2005-12-16T00:06:00.000-08:00

Blogpipe, over at Piper and Drummer Online has some comments from Andrew Berthoff who first reported Gordon's passing"

"I was shocked to hear from Gordon's friends and family that the news of Gordon's passing was reported on P&D Online before some of them had heard. This is not what I had assumed would have been the case, and now I was doubly saddened: the loss of one of the world's greatest musicians and the fact that I had unwittingly further hurt his family by reporting the news."

Iain MacDonald responded:

"Reporting the news in the piping world is really reporting about friends, and that is not an easy position. Reading shocking and tragic news about a friend is never easy either."

Read the rest of the post here.

Doubly tragic news

2005-12-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

We are even more greatly saddened to to learn the Gordon apparently died of his own hand. If we only knew about his private pain. If he only knew he had thousands of friends around the world.

The web site listed below has some helpful information for people coping with the suicide of a friend and how to help those who have lost someone close to them.

Read about coping.

Message from Ian Green of Greentrax Records

2005-12-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a message from Ian Green of Greentrax Records, where Gordon produced his three CDs:

Gordon Duncan - Piper and Composer Extraordinaire!

I was devastated to learn today that Gordon Duncan had died on the 14th December at his home in Edradour, Pitlochry, Perthshire. Gordon was 41 years of age.

Gordon was of course one of the most talented and innovative pipers in Scotland in present times. He was also a remarkable composer and did me the great honour of composing a tune titled - "Ian Green of Greentrax". I am very, very proud of that tune.

Gordon recorded three wonderful albums for Greentrax, the first in 1994, and in the intervening years Gordon and myself became good friends. He referred to me in his pawkie way as "Greenie" and 'The Boss".

Hamish Moore wrote of Gordon in a sleeve note on the "Just For Seumas"
album: "This man is precious and should be one of Scotland's living national treasures".

I endorse that statement and would add that Gordon was a very rare talent indeed - and is a sad loss to the Scottish traditional music scene. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Gordon's funeral is at 12.45p.m. on Wednesday, 21st December, at the Church of Scotland, Pitlochry, Perthshire.

IAN GREEN
Managing Director
GREENTRAX RECORDINGS LIMITED

One of Scotland's Treasures

2005-12-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

Here's an article from today's Evening Telegraph:

Perthshire world-famous piper dies

The world of Scottish music was today stunned to hear of the death of Perthshire’s Gordon Duncan. One of the nation’s foremost pipers, the Pitlochry-born musician was just 41.

Described as “one of the most stunning and innovative pipers of his generation” he was also a composer whose work received world renown. He played with many top folk groups including Capercaillie, Wolfstone and Ceolbeg, as well as several notable pipe bands, including The Vale of Atholl. Through his CDs his music became known throughout the world, exposing a wide audience to his contemporary leanings to and his folk band experience, while also paying tribute to bagpipe tradition. Today, Ian Green, of Greentrax Recordings, paid tribute to him and said he and studio felt as if they had lost a member of their family. He described Gordon as an amazing composer and said he was one of the most innovative pipers Scotland had seen. “He could play in competition style, but saw no restrictions as far as the bagpipes were concerned,” Ian explained.

“He had the most amazing fast fingers and it was that combination of a great tunesmith and innovative piping that meant he was in a different class. “When his first album came out another renowned Scottish piper Hamish Moore said, ‘This man is precious and should be one of Scotland’s living national treasures.’ That for me just sums him up. “He should have been recognised as a class musician, but unfortunately outstanding traditional musicians often don’t get the attention they deserve.” Gordon hails from a family steeped in Scottish music and song, with father Jock a famous balladeer, known for his singing of bothy ballads.

Brother Ian is also a well-known piper. Having previously been pipe major with The Vale of Atholl, he is currently pipe major of The Atholl Highlanders and teaches piping in Dundee schools. Gordon released three albums, with his debut coming to world attention in 1994 and his latest released in 2002. Among his most popular and memorably titled tracks is Andy Renwick’s Ferret. The tune has gained international renown, being recorded over 100 times around the world on every conceivable instrument. He was just starting work on his fourth studio album. Ian Green said it was hard to take the loss of a genius who was also “just a wonderful wee man. “It was difficult to get him out of his shell in the beginning, but once you got to know him you found a genuine, nice fellow without a bad word to say about anyone,” he said.

Read the article.

One-of-a-kind

2005-12-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

The piping world has lost one of the all-time greats. Brilliant performer, visionary composer, iconoclast, rebel, and genius have been used to describe Gordon Duncan. He was one of my piping heroes. Ever since I first heard a recorded performance of his tune Andy Renwick's Ferret, I dreamed of playing like him -- fast, exciting, and so very different. I met him on a few occasions, though I doubt he would have remembered me. I've probably played his recordings on my CD player, and now my iPod, more than those of any other piper. It started with his solo track on the obscure cassette tape "The Atholl Highlanders", then the CDs Just for Seamus, The Circular Breath, and Thunderstruck. His technique dazzled me with it's speed and virtuosity. His compositions filled me with such hope for what was possible for the bagpipe. I doubt there's a piper alive who has heard his music who hasn't dreamed they could play like Gordon and write tunes like Gordon wrote. He was a man who reached out to the world through his music, and in a hundred years pipers will still be playing his tunes. He was unique in the truest meaning of the world: absolutely one-of-a-kind, without equal. We live in a sadder world knowing we'll never hear him play again.

Favourite Tunes

2005-12-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sure everyone has their favourite tunes composed by Gordon. Use this thread to share your favourites.

A Hero is Gone

2005-12-14T15:01:00.000-08:00

We are all saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of piping hero Gordon Duncan. Please use this site to post your thoughts, comments, and memories. We'll post new news as it comes out.