Duncan Johnstone

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Duncan Johnstone (25 July 1925 – 14 November 1999) was a Scottish bagpiper and composer.[1][2]

He was born in Glasgow. His parents were from the Outer Hebrides; his father was from Barra, and his mother from Benbecula. Upon leaving school, he was apprenticed as a cabinetmaker.[3] During World War II, Duncan served with the Submarine Surveillance Mine Sweeping Service in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.[2] On his return from the war, he became a joiner for the Clan Line and Stephen shipyards, whilst taking piping lessons in his free time.[2] He was the first piper to win the in 1964.[2]

In 1974, he moved on to be a bagpipe instructor full-time at the College of Piping in Otago Street, Glasgow; a position he held until 1978 when, he founded his own piping school in Robertson Street. Duncan taught Finlay MacDonald (musician), one of the first pipers to receive a BA in Scottish Music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.[2]

In his lifetime he would publish three books of traditional and modern pipe music and three solo albums.[2] He was awarded the by in 1996 for his piping achievements.[2]

After his death the was set up by the National Piping Centre.[4]

External links[]

Bagpipe News. November 5, 2020.

References[]

  1. ^ Gilchrist, Jim (30 January 2012). "Music Review : Celtic Connections : Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band & Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band : ****". The Scotsman. p. 34.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Duncan Johnstone". The Herald. Glasgow. 27 November 1999. p. 18.
  3. ^ "Famous Pipers: Duncan Johnstone". Bagpipe News. The National Piping Centre. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  4. ^ Gilchrist, Jim (4 August 2010). "Folk, Jazz, Etc: Son's suite tribute to the piper's piper, the late Duncan Johnstone". The Scotsman. p. 40.
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