Tom Duncan
Standing In The Shadows
© 2002 Tom Duncan (783707572826)
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Known as the "Harp dude," he brings a unique approach to harp playing with 14 original tunes. Folk, classical, jazz & pop influences.
tracks
- 1 Dancing in the Shadows
- 2 Alone-waiting For You
- 3 Elsewhere
- 4 M'ladies Reverie
- 5 The Way Home
- 6 To Be There With You
- 7 October 28th
- 8 Barcarolle
- 9 Annette's Waltz
- 10 Prelude and Song For a Summers Day
- 11 Cerulean Skies
- 12 Waltzing Back Home
- 13 Walking to Archturus
- 14 In the Garden
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The musical ability of Tom Duncan is mesmerizing, lavished with tints and hues that paint a landscape filled with sound and texture. In the simplest of terms, Duncan is a harper. However, his talents go far beyond that of just plucking strings to create a melody. Duncan wears many hats in regards to his musical career. He is a musician, a composer, a craftsman and, most importantly, he is The Harpdude.
Duncan began his career as a pianist. Naturally taking to the instrument as a child, he established a natural feel for technique and skill. Studying piano at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, Duncan developed a loving interest for historical instruments. Throughout the years, he has written music for various pop and classical performances, plays and video productions. His recordings for videos and plays have featured him playing various acoustic instruments and synthesizers.
Duncan's love for Early Music led him to conduct research on the instruments themselves and how they were created. He began his own collection of tools and expanded his skills into one of a craftsman, making his own folk harps; the one's you see him transporting into concerts, coffee shops, and various events. It's this process that transforms him into the Harpdude, performing a variety of traditional and personally composed pieces, many of them you will find on his debut CD "Harpdude".
Tom's ist CD "Harpdude" paints the sites and sounds of Scotland, Ireland, and England, as well as songs originally-written and composed by Duncan. Highlights of the CD include two songs by Scottish writer Neil Gow, "Farewell To Whisky" and "Neil Gow's Lament on the Death of his Second Wife," a gorgeous version of "Blind Mary" by Irish composer O'Carolyn, and an elegant rendition of the English song "Come Live With Me and Be My Love."
Quickly after the release of Harpdude, Duncan was invited to tour various parts of Scotland, including a bill on the legendary Fringe Festival, the world's largest arts festival. He also performed at the Fringe Review that was broadcast live by the BBC.
His performances generated positive reviews by the press including a glowing review in The Scotsman and The Herald. Sue Wilson of The Scotsman wrote that Tom's performance of Niel Gow's "Farewell To Whiskey" was "tempering appropriately elegiac melancholy with a fondly reminiscent flavour." As for the concert in general, she wrote that he "played with a fluent, expressive technique."
Duncan also gave a well-received concert in Inverness at the Balnian House - The Home of Highland Music - a building that is part concert hall, museum and teaching staff all dedicated to the music of the Scottish Highlands. He wrapped up his tour of Scotland with a performance at the Borders Books and Music store in Glasgow.
Harpdude has raised some impressive critiques from the local and national media. Kathy Barnard from Branches wrote in a review, "Duncan's playing combines sensitive and soulful expression with an impressive, fluid technique. The selection of tunes reflects a wonderful depth and breadth of knowledge of traditional Celtic music, and a strong relationship with the folk harp". Susan Hartman wrote of Tom's original compositions in Dirty Linen magazine. " Two compositions by Duncan bring a very different approach to the instrument: They incorporate modern influences from other cultures and additional instruments, most notably guitar and synthesizer. Traditionalists beware, but those with a more open attitude might find his pieces to be an interesting bridge between trad Celtic and new age".
Tom's New CD "Standing In the Shadows" is a unique collection of 14 original instrumental pieces by Tom. These songs span styles from folk, jazz, pop, classical and Indian influences. Duncan's forceful performances on harp are augmented by his guitar, piano, synthesizer and accordion playing. He is joined on various numbers by violin, flute, bass and tabla.
reviews
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One of his names were [Harp Dude]. He was a slave. Also he is such a GREAT pianist!
Great Music
author: Betti McTurkThank you for the great music. I am not an authority on music, but it touches deep in the heart.
Contemporary music with a strong neo-Celtic sentinence
author: Joe Ross“Harp Dude” Tom Duncan is a consummate player of his self-built folk harps. After the success of his debut album that was firmly grounded in Celtic traditions, Indianapolis-based Duncan now treats us to 14 original tunes that span from about 3 to 7 minutes apiece. This nearly hour-long project has a different twist because it incorporates influences from many musical genres. While always keeping his harp in the forefront, Duncan tastefully plays guitar, piano, synthesizer and accordion on various numbers, and he is occasionally joined by guest artists Cheryl Riggle (violin, flute), Peter Hansen (bass), Alfred Abel (violin) and Travis Ellison (tabla). Varying the instrumental accompaniment helps Duncan convey many musical moods, while always remaining sublime, majestic and stately. The overall effect is comforting, and Duncan’s entire work could actually be viewed akin to an epic journey or spiritual quest. Although I enjoyed most of his compositions, “Elsewhere” and “Cerulean Skiies” were personal favorites. The latter has a bounce not unlike many of blind Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan’s compositions. I also derived considerable enjoyment from the waltzes, “Annette’s Waltz” and “Waltzing Back Home.” I found myself perking up when the tunes also incorporated violin, flute or accordion leads, although I would have shortened the arrangement of “M’Ladies Reverie” by a couple minutes. Some liner notes providing some insight into Duncan’s inspirations and thoughts about each piece would have been nice. While a primary nod to Celtic influences continues, the opener “Dancing in the Shadows” has Spanish overtones. The closer, “In the Garden,” has an Indian feel. The bulk of the project has a meditative and relaxed Celtic consciousness. Perhaps some Andean plucking techniques, African rhythms or Oriental scales could have taken us even further abroad. I was happy to see some minimal glissandos find their way into the album’s closing number. My guess is that “Harp Dude” Tom Duncan lives, eats and breathes harp. The musician, composer, and luthier began as a classically trained pianist, but a love for early music led him to research the instruments, build folk harps, tour Scotland, and appear at the Fringe Festival there. The harper speaks eloquently with his strings, and his compositions are poetically enlightening. He doesn’t stray so far that I would call this new age music. Rather, it seems more appropriately called contemporary music with a strong neo-Celtic sentinence. Duncan’s pleasant work is one of not only charm, but also infinite beauty. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, Oregon)