Scotland’s finest remember Gordon Duncan

Sep 25 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

MUSIC reflecting the late, great Gordon Duncan’s penchant for innovation and exploration will be the keystone to ‘A National Treasure III’ in Perth Concert Hall tomorrow (Saturday) evening.

The celebration of this piping legend, who was just 41 when he died at his home in Edradour in December 2005, builds upon the hugely successful National Treasure I and II by bringing together top traditional musicians from Scotland and beyond.

And this year’s line-up is the hottest yet, with special guests Karen Matheson of Capercaillie and celebrated singer and guitarist Kris Drever putting the seal on a special night of music.

For award-winning Kris, the Gordon Duncan connection is that his father, Ivan, played in Wolfstone with Gordon Duncan for many years. Kris kindly agreed to join tomorrow’s line-up as a replacement for Andy M Stewart, who has a broken leg.

One of Gordon Duncan’s proteges, Perth-based Ross Ainslie, is co-musical director of the concert and also takes his place on stage as a member of the house band – the exciting whirlwind which is the Treacherous Orchestra.

Ross (26) is now regarded as one of Scotland’s top traditional musicians, with a hectic schedule at home and abroad which reflects that status. Yet ask him to name the highlight of his busy year so far, and he quickly replies: “It was with the Treacherous Orchestra at the Cambridge Folk Festival when we were the main stage act which finished off the festival.”

Ross has invited Gordon Duncan’s son, Gordon, to guest with the Treacherous Orchestra on a couple of tracks at tomorrow’s concert.

Another feature of the evening will be when four Treacherous Orchestra members – bassist Duncan Lyall, fiddlers Adam Sutherland and Innes Watson and flautist Kevin O’Neill – premier pieces specially commissioned by the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust.

These ‘Tunes For Gordon’ reflect one of the Trust’s stated aims to “encourage the attainment of high standards of performance and innovative composition in relation to all forms of traditional music.”

Ross explained: “This year’s commission are totally different from last year and totally different from each other. Innes’s is a folk take on a pirate quest, Adam’s is quite heavy metal, Kevin’s is traditional and Dunc’s is sort of French.”

Other acts performing in honour of Gordon Duncan and to raise funds for the Trust set up in his name will be The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Irish piping duo John McSherry and Francis McIlduff, Edelmiro Fernandez – tagged the Galician Gordon Duncan, and Gordon’s nephew Alex Duncan.

Ross added: “Basically this year’s concert will stick to the same format as the other two because that is how we feel we can best celebrate Gordon’s life and music and also reflect what his music stood for.

“We’re delighted Karen Matheson and Kris Drever can this year be part of that celebration, and that Gary West and Fiona Ritchie will again be the MCs for the night. They’re both professional and they also both knew Gordon very well, so they’re just the right people.”

Tickets for the show at 7.30pm tomorrow from the Horsecross box office on 01738 621031 or visit www.horsecross.co.uk