Gordon Duncan (piper)

Gordon Duncan (piper)

Gordon Duncan (b. May 14, 1964 - d. December 14, 2005) was a Turriff, Aberdeenshire born bagpiper player and composer, having composed over 100 tunes in his lifetime, with his most famous work, Andy Renwick's Ferret, being performed and recorded internationally.

Born into a Pitlochry family, Duncan began his piping career at the age of 10, winning many junior competitions under the tuition of Walter Drysdale, before almost leaving piping at the age of 18 to become an apprentice joiner. However, after touring the US and Europe with the Tannahill Weavers, Wolfstone and Ceolbeg, he became associated with Dougie Maclean, collaborating with him on his albums playing low whistle. He began composing soon afterwards, heavily influenced by Breton music.

Later he also performed with the Atholl Highlanders, as well as being signed by Greentrax.

Duncan created a new style of idiosyncratic bagpipe music, being hailed by fellow pipers as the "Jimmy Hendricks of Bagpipes". He also incorporated the bagpipes into renditions of ACDC's Thunderstruck. His work was heard at T in the Park, Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours in Canada, The Lorient festival, where he was the two-time winner of the MacAllan Trophy, in Brittany and the Fleadh Cheòil in Ireland.

Though he worked as a refuse collector, he was known to scribble compositions on cigarette packets whilst at work.

In 2005, after a long struggle with alcoholism, Duncan committed suicide; his funeral was held at Church of Scotland in Pitlochry and was attended by hundreds of pipers. He was survived by his mother and father, brother and two sisters, as well as his son, Gordon, and his wife, Mary.

In 2011 the BBC aired a show in tribute to his work and a tribute to him has been played at every National Treasure concert in Perth.