In March 2020, the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piping Competition was one of the first piping events to be cancelled as the effects of the pandemic took hold. With the event postponed for a second year due to the continuing government restrictions, The National Piping Centre has created a new event to celebrate the life and works of Duncan Johnstone, the hugely influential piper, teacher and composer.
A Celebration of Duncan Johnstone and his Music will be an evening of fantastic music and interviews with students of Duncan’s and fans of his music.
During the concert you will hear solo piping from Roddy MacLeod, MBE, one of Duncan’s most well-known pupils and John Dew who was the last overall winner of the competition in 2019. The event was recorded at The National Piping Centre in early March in strict adherence to all social distancing and COVID safe guidelines.
The NPC’s Director of Piping Finlay MacDonald has put together a band with fiddler Marie Fielding, founder member of Capercaillie and Director of Celtic Connections Donald Shaw, and guitarist Steve Byrne, for a cracking set of tunes, showing us why Duncan’s music is so highly regarded in the wider traditional music scene.
Dougie Pincock, former piper with the Battlefield Band and Director of The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, will also perform from his home in Plockton, as well as discussing his years of tutelage with the great man, himself.
Finlay MacDonald said: “We wanted to make sure that we continue to honour and celebrate Duncan’s contribution to the piping world. This event showcases the depth and breadth of his music, but also gives us an opportunity to hear more about the man himself through those who had a personal connection to him and have been influenced by his body of work.”
This event will be premiered online on Saturday 10th April from 7pm, and tickets are £10 to watch this fantastic night of tunes and interviews, and can be purchased online at The National Piping Centre website through Inplayer, the same software that was used for Piping Live! and the Glenfiddich Piping Championship. After the event, you can rewatch it for a week until Saturday 17th April.
Head to www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/livestream to purchase your ticket for this event.
