Gordon Duncan Full Documentary - Just for Gordon

[@colindouglas7769]

I think the first encounter I had with Gordon Duncan was in a pub in Rose Street in Edinburgh back in the early 1980s. Back then, I was a member of "Scotland's Colour Party" which a friend of mine from Stirling had formed to carry the Saltire and Lion Rampant in honour of Scotland's historical heroes like Robert The Bruce and William Wallace at the annual commemorations of Bannockburn and Stirling Bridge and one year, it was decided to apply to the Edinburgh International Festival organisers to take part in the big Princes Street Parade. Unfortunately, our application was rejected because we were deemed to be "too Scottish". However, as luck would have it, the pipe band who were leading the Wallace Day Rally in Elderslie, were also going to be taking part the next day in the Festival Parade and they said, "just drop in ahint us, lads; they'll no ken the difference!". So we did a very Gordon Duncan kind of thing and gate-crashed the Edinburgh Festival Parade and lapped up the applause that greeted us as we marched down past the Scott Monument. Gordon was in many ways a maverick who thumbed his nose at convention, and we have seen that shining so clearly in this wonderful documentary. Gordon took the tight-laced piping traditionalists on and brought the piping art into the 20th century through the sheer force of his unique energy and passion for music. He had a real determination to make the music relevant to so many more people, especially the younger generations and to show that there is so much more to our country's traditional music as an art form both in itself and its links to other musical forms. He certainly inspired me that day I encountered him in the pub in Rose Street. He said, "come on and we'll have some tunes" and we went through the back room. There was the usual piped music (not bagpipe music, but that usual commercial guff you hear all too often in hospitality establishments). I told Gordon that I'd go and ask the barman to switch off the music, but he just stopped me, stood on the bench and reached up and ripped the cable out of the speaker, sat down again, got his whistles and chanter out and started to play. He'd almost certainly had a pint or two by that time, so you can only surmise that the inhibitions about taking such drastic action as this were probably somewhat dampened. His playing was sublime though and I will never forget it. We met again on many occasions in the following years, and while I'd seen him in some of his lower, more manic periods, the news that he'd taken his own life really cut to the core. Manic Depression is such a destructive condition and there is not a single one of us who have had the sheer honour and pleasure of knowing him as a friend who doesn't regret not doing more to help him get back to happy Gordon again. We can only live with the memory of the many times when he delighted and amazed us with his phenomenal piping and rejoice in the amazing tunes he has left behind him. He was a brilliant piper and a fine human being and the world is a poorer place with out him in it! Rest in peace, Gordon and thanks for all the encouragement you gave me in my playing.

[@mcmanustony]

Having worked with Gordon in the studio making Thunderstruck I can attest to his genius. The track on the album is one take....no drop ins, no edits. We talked about performing the music live and the prospect was incredibly exciting to me. Sadly, it never happened.

[@GordonGAndrew]

“If there’s another world, he lives in bliss; If there is none, he made the best of this.” - Robert Burns

[@markkelly4955]

Dare to be honest and fear no labor.

[@rosshutchison6893]

You know

[@derekhenderson1730]

I played with Gordon in Dougie Maclean's Band in the late 80s early 90s and he was a tremendous lad. The last time I saw him was in a supermarket in Perth when Dougie had just released his Indigenous album. We chatted for a while and had a bit of banter, before we parted I gave him a hug and we hoped to catch up at some point . .but we never did, as that was the last time I saw him. Dear Gordon, RIP you will be missed forever. x

[@juniemoonhagan4844]

Gordon was a dear friend and neighbour at Edradour, he was a genius and is sorely missed by all x

[@adamwiggins9865]

When you pick up an instrument like this.. so naturally,so well, so quickly ..it’s like you were born to do it..I can’t help but feel like it’s not my first lifetime giving the pipes a go.

[@jakescheesy]

Nothing short of a legend and through his music, he will live forever. Thanks for this great documentary.

[@damienmullan8880]

This video is an absolute gem, thanks for putting it up. Gordon was an earthquake in the piping world, God bless his soul I hope he’s happier now. Greetings from a very humbled piper from Ireland.

[@aprilisch]

Thank you for posting this! I grew up piping in the US Midwest going to piping schools like Ohio Scottish Arts School (OSAS) and even there Gordon Duncan was a name that came up often and all of us kids wanted to learn his music. One year Stuart Cassells was an instructor and I hadn't realized the connection between him and Gordon. When I heard about his death I felt a sense of loss even though I had never met him. This documentary connected some dots for me. Thank you again!

[@uilleamgalgael6510]

Watched this when it first appeared on line but thanks for the reminder. It still tears at you though it's been 15 years but the tunes and the aroha remain. Cùm slàn to all in Alba/Scotland. Be safe and let's hope that '21 will bring what you need. Saor Alba! Gordie gu Bràth!

[@hr4669]

I meet him in Festival Interceltique De Lorient, just before he plays for the championship Mc Callan Trophy. I make two photography with him. After i said: I'm coming from Switzerland and i hear your music in CD...His face said: What i am talking about ? I think he never knows what an international genius he was...

[@courtmac4]

Marvelous video, I feel a deep sense of loss for someone I didn't know, but wish I had, !!!

[@Marcblur]

"He gave us 11 notes." Believe me, if you're a piper of a certain age, as soon as you played a C natural or F natural your instructor or someone in your band was going to have a go at you.

[@garethutting6328]

Didn't happen in our Band a piper played Andy Renwicks Ferret I dont know the other tunes in the set after we had performed he played on the Coach encouraged by our Pipe Major.

[@adventurousmedic]

Yeah, smacked across the back of the head and threatened to be sent to the drum corp for penance! haha

[@ivanriverooo]

Can you elaborate on this since I am not into this not native English speaker.

[@gregrobertson1218]

@@ivanriverooo Happy to help - nobody wants to be sent to the drum corps :) Just kidding, the original poster means that Gordon began casually playing Cnat or Fnat in tunes (Andy Renwick's and Thunderstruck for example) which was quite against the tradition of nine, very properly fingered notes. Sometimes instructors, pipe majors or 'traditional' players were so strict on not using this "false fingering" that they would resort to punishment (a smack across the knuckles with a chanter was one I have heard). This would date back much more to the days of military level piping instruction, however some would say it still happens.... Playing 'The Belly Dancer' like it was recorded would land you in at least a few awkward conversations 50 years ago. This is just one of the many reasons why Gordon's influence is so far reaching years after he carved and taped his first chanter.

[@ivanriverooo]

@@gregrobertson1218 Replies like these is why I love KZbin still. Thank you in Scottish Gaelic.

[@douglasherron7534]

Thanks for posting this. I had never heard of Gordon Duncan before, but now I wish I had...

[@Maddplaid]

Awesome RIP Gordon.

[@maggielittle4410]

Thank you for posting this.

[@MichaelMyers33]

Welcome! 🙂

[@petersteel9331]

I love the sound of Bag Pipes rest in peace Gordon you are the best listening from south of Chile ❤

[@dougalmcdougal8682]

Amazing documentary … … I now more fully understand what the hype is all about … ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@cdelalora]

This video is wonderful . At the beginning he plays a traditional galician muiñeira. The muiñeira of Poio

[@daveg1089]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@MichaelMyers33]

You are welcome!

[@josevicentejimenez9070]

De los mejores gaiteros escoceses de la historia, sin duda Creo que es tesoro nacional de Escocia Respeto desde España de un gaitero aficionado que toca la smallpipe 🇪🇸🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@neilcalder1481]

God bless Gordon Duncan

[@viciouslady1340]

Magical

[@catpiperdrumkitten6521]

My great inspiration for traditional Bagpipes!

[@thelonelypiper9562]

For me ,the best piper ever.

[@fatheroblivion45]

Many thanks for uploading this matey. I fair enjoyed it.

[@hafer88]

thank you very much for the upload 🌿🌻🌿🌹

[@andrewpointer4953]

Thanks for posting this. RIP Gog.

[@JustFiddler]

thank you! greeting from bali island

[@MichaelMyers33]

Bali is super cool :)

[@beandissential]

All set aside. I wished he had performed at my wedding. Rip the best piper on the planet x

[@MattMacIsaacMusic]

This is so well done... thank you... but please, the (many) ads that come up as they’re talking about his tragic death are jarring, and frankly, kinda distasteful.

[@MichaelMyers33]

Hi Matt, it's not in my hands with the ads. That's a thing of the copyright owner, and they get the money for the KZbin ads. I can't change that.

[@MattMacIsaacMusic]

@@MichaelMyers33 That's unfortunate! Thanks for the reply.

[@jflivingston]

Adblockers are wonderful things! I surely agree with you - this is a very well done documentary and I would like to have known Gordon Duncan.

[@hazed1009]

@@MichaelMyers33 you cant demonetise it? I guess you have to bow to the wants of the copywright owners but its still sad those owners couldnt have respect enough for the deceased to leave the money out of it. Then again if that money goes toward making more tributes to sadly unsung artists we have (and have lost!) then ill suffer the ads . What a piper he was. RIP

[@RayMainBagpiper]

Such an inspiring video !! Thanks for posting this !!!

[@debraduncan1279]

He was a rock&roll Scottish pipe rock star⭐💯

[@johnhutchison2268]

That was so moving

[@billhorn6840]

Funny, I took this video of him late 90s. Miss his talent…..

[@pemacal57]

First piece he is playing is a Galician “Muiñeira”…..very difficult to play with a GHB

[@rosshutchison6893]

I love to gone on notie I love playing pipes

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

I'll die a piper

[@williamswhistlepipes]

They say god only takes the good or the best... let’s hope it’s right

[@jflivingston]

"They" say a lot of stupid fucking things like that! What a tragedy it is!

[@soidog659]

Jock Gordon has the biggest ears I have ever seen on a human being.

[@seanoreilly7293]

Ian Page fae Fife is the Zappa of piping,

[@PIPEHEAD]

Nobody's that stupid.

[@cccc3169]

Name of the tune at 14:00?

[@donaldknox3608]

Last Tango in Harris

[@nledaig]

Some artists cut their ears off: some do worse.

[@nledaig]

Se deagh fhacail anns an fhacail "eclectic" s se siud a bha s an cheoil aige.Ach a torr eile ri radh m dheidhinn an fhear seo s an mac.mheanmha is an deamhainn a bha aige.

[@nledaig]

Chuala mi aon uar e aig an Legion s an bhaile mhor againn s gu dearbh bha e math. S bha te bhan bhoidheachd cuide ris,

[@rosshutchison6893]

Imbepeah ments