Gordon Duncan - Piping Centre 2003 - 5b

Taken during a remarkable recital at the Piping Centre in Glasgow in 2003. A close up view of just how good Gordon was. At over 12 minutes, this clip was too long to upload in one go. This is the 2nd half.

[@Webbpiper]

Oh, Gordon, you were unbelievable! Thanks again to Riperpiper for making Gordon's playing accessible visually. It is amazing that anyone could play that fast, for so long, and not break a noticeable bead of sweat.

[@andyaitken4022]

this is my favourite piping video by a country mile. top bands are good but you are subjected to the overall band effect and can't get close to any individual mastery. top solo performances are great because you can hear the precision of tone, embellishments and phrasing - but they are constrained by the fact that they are competing and trying to deliver a - "better do this right" - performance. what Gordon did - and this video is the best example in my opinion - was to transcend these constraints and make his music free. he seemed to express the music as an emotion (requiring no or little conscious thought). I would guess that most pipers have the tune in their conscious mind when playing it - ie, they think about it. the third element in this display of musical brilliance is that he composed a lot of the music he played - thus creating a whole new dimension to the musicality. playing it would almost be an subconscious process a bit like the process of smelling or smiling to you and i. maybe that's why you can see him looking around in this video, taking in the surroundings....focusing on something else (because he can)..........checking for spiders...

[@Chrismacleod777]

What a fabulous piper he was!

[@charlie1pipes]

I Thank God always that we had you for a little while my friend.....RIP

[@arevaci85]

A man with a sensitive nivel like gordon and a miserable world like that is a very bad combination.Sadly this geniuos left us, but we never will forget him.You only brought us love to life, Gordon forever.

[@StrathendrickPiper]

exceptional piping right there

[@zirkus88]

that is a magic birl

[@Crieftan]

Absolutely phenomenal! Think bagpipes, think Gordon

[@andyaitken4022]

i ve heard that angus maccoll can do keepy uppies with a football while playing competition 2/4 marches. another musical genius...

[@piperbrian]

Superb...The Best in ceol beg piping. Sad that he´s gone...

[@clarebannerman]

Brilliant piping.

[@richardtallach7104]

Incredibly facile-fingering and improvisation.

[@BagpipeTeacher]

a great loss

[@ratatafouilla]

c"est un dieu de la conemuse!!! ou plustôt c"était un dieu... car malheureusement il est mort...