Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association
GORDON DUNCAN, WORLD-FAMOUS PIPER DIES
Thursday, December 15, 2005 – The world of Scottish music was 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.
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.â€
Read more online at the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association website.