The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust are planning the creation and release of the second collection of the late, great piper and whistle player Gordon Duncan’s compositions: Book Two.
As well as some hidden gems, they are adding traditional compositions that Gordon made his own, including Scottish, Irish and Breton compositions and the full written score for one of his most influential arrangements, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.
The project was successfully funded through Crowdfunder.co.uk on June 27th 2015. Over £12,000 was raised, beyond the £10,000 target, by over 250 backers.
For various pledge amounts you could have received:
an early copy of Gordon Duncan’s Book Two, delivered direct to your door before the January launch
a Skeleton T-shirt
a limited edition Gordon Duncan Thunderstruck T-shirt
a Gordon Duncan Thunderstruck Hoody
a limited (and numbered) edition of 100 copies of Gordon Duncan’s Book One and Book Two (hard-bound) available to buy
All proceeds go to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust in order to create and publish the book and the various limited edition T-shirts and Hoodies.
The Trust are looking to launch the book officially at Celtic Connections in January 2016.
The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust was set up in 2007 to promote and support traditional music. They released Book One of Gordon’s compositions in 2007 and have sold more than 5,000 copies since launch.
“Gordon Duncan composed hook lines worthy of the best songwriters in history, improvised as well as any jazz musician, played piobaireachd like a classical soloist and grounded all his work firmly on a centuries-old canon of traditional music he loved. We will benefit from that work for years to come…” (virtuoso Celtic guitarist Tony McManus)
Fiddler Gordon Gunn’s new album From Wick To Wickham is now slated for release on Greentrax in September. The original release date was August but Gordon has unfortunately sustained a bad leg injury.
In April 2015 Eric Bogle was invited to the Gallipoli Centenary on Anzac Day and sang And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda at 4.40am to a large and appreciative gathering, of mainly Australians and of course the ghosts of all those boys he originally wrote the song for.
Eric described it as “a privilege…” and “a very moving and emotional experience…” and and he was delighted he had accepted the invitation from Battlefield Tours of Australia, who arranged the trip.
A few days before the anniversary, Ricky Ross presented a half hour programme on BBC Radio Scotland based on Eric’s song And The Band Played… Eric was interviewed at length and guests included June Tabor and Archie Fisher.
An anniversary commemoration service arranged by Legion Scotland was held in Edinburgh Castle on 25th April and screened on the Castle Esplanade to enable the public to see it. The event including extracts from Eric’s DVD, including his singing of And The Band Played… and All The Fine Young Men. This was reported on BBC TV and STV.
Eric Bogle was born in Peebles a few days after the D-Day landings in Normandy, followed shortly after by his twin sister Sandra. Eric later emigrated to Australia and in 1980, after various jobs and the success of his songs And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and No Man’s Land (aka Greenfields of France), he embarked on the perilous career of professional musician. A compulsive, almost obsessive songwriter for most his adult life, Eric has written many, many songs, some of which have pretty much become Australian, if not world classics of their particular genre. Possibly his best known song is And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, which confirmed its status by appearing as a question in the Australian version of Trivial Pursuit!
Eric’s songs have been recorded by Joan Baez, Mary Black, Jean Redpath MBE, June Tabor, Donovan, Billy Bragg, The Pogues, The Fureys and The Corries, to name but a few.
Eric has recorded numerous albums and a DVD, most of which are available on Greentrax Recordings, who license the albums from Eric for The World, except Australia and New Zealand. Eric has toured extensively in North America, the UK and Europe, plus of course Australia and New Zealand, and has appeared at every major folk and country music festival in Australia and around the world.
He has had many awards bestowed on him, including the Order of Australia Medal for services to the entertainment industry and a Peace Medal from the United Nations for his efforts, through music, to promote peace and racial harmony.
In Scotland he was recognized by The Scots Trad Awards and has been placed in their Hall of Fame. In a Celebrity Top 50 Songs Poll held in 2003, two of Eric’s songs - And The Band Played… and No Man’s Land were placed No 1 and 5 respectively, above international artists such as Donovan, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, John Prine and many more.
The Melody Maker wrote of Eric, “Most of the best contemporary songs of the seventies were written by Eric Bogle”. And that is only part of his success story!
Award-winning Scottish musician and performer Mairi Campbell steps out on a quest to heal ancient wounds. Transforming, she returns as a soundkeeper tracking Scotland’s pulse. Pulse blends traditional with elemental, weaving together movement, storytelling, animation and music to chart her journey.
Live shows on 12th & 13th June 2015, 7.30pm at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre - tickets £8/£6 - to book, call the box office on 0131 315 2151.
Directed by Kath Burlinson. Music written and produced by Mairi Campbell & Dave Gray. Animation by Claire Lamond.
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