A Harrogate man has won a place in the grand final of Channel 4’s The Piano.
Eighty-year-old Duncan captured the hearts of viewers with an incredible love story and won episode 1 of series 2, securing him a spot in the final.
The show sees gifted amateur pianists perform at a street piano in a different railway station each week. It is hosted by Claudia Winkleman and judged by international pop star Mika and Lang Lang, a musician described by the Guardian as “the greatest living pianist”.
The critically acclaimed first series won Best Original Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the second series began on Sunday, April 28.
Duncan first began playing the piano aged four. At a young age he found that he could play the piano by ear and has practised for 76 years.
On the show, Duncan played A Theme for Fran, a romantic song he wrote 30 years ago for his wife. Duncan and Fran first met in 1964 and have been married for 42 years.
Duncan and Fran from Harrogate shared their love story with The Piano’s audience. Image: Channel 4
The pair were both born in Leeds but have lived in the district for many years, first in Birstwith and now in Harrogate. Duncan qualified as a solicitor and played the piano regularly at Betty’s in Harrogate until the covid pandemic.
He was scouted for the second series of Channel 4’s The Piano when a video of him playing was shared to social media.
Duncan has had Alzheimer’s disease for six years, but was only diagnosed with it two years ago, and now uses his musical talent as as a form of medicine.
Duncan and Fran attend a dementia hub in Burton Leonard run by Dementia Forward. The couple play and sing with community groups such as St Peter’s Church market days and at Harrogate’s Christ Church, where each Thursday a pianist with dementia plays. Duncan performs there monthly, and it was a video of this that the producers saw.
The first episode showcased the talented pianists of the North when a piano was installed in Manchester Piccadilly station. The judges said Duncan’s performance was “beautiful” and it sounded “like a piece from another time, very romantic.”
The judges and host of ‘The Piano,’ left to right: Lang Lang, Claudia Winkleman and Mika. Image: Channel 4
Mika said:
“There was one moment where we were able to understand why we are doing this all over again. Where the piano just had its place and music just made sense, and that was during the performance of Duncan.”
In an exclusive interview with the Stray Ferret, Fran said:
“It is an incredible privilege. It was a remarkable experience and it was so lovely listening to the comments of Mika and Lang Lang. It was stunning to listen to the other talent.
“It has given us an incredible experience and an opportunity, given Duncan’s age and Alzheimer’s it shows it is never too late to dream. To hear the feedback from Lang Lang and Mika gave him an extra sense of being appreciated for playing.
“They loved the story as well as his playing. We feel that it will inspire others, no matter their age or condition. It shows people there is always something positive to pull out of life. It’s wonderful.”
Duncan playing ‘A Theme for Fran’ at Manchester Piccadilly Station. Image Channel 4
She added:
“A Theme for Fran was written 30 years ago, but it is still so relevant. Every time he plays it there is such a lot of love, I just have to whizz over to the piano and kiss him. It encompasses everything about him and our romance. It means a huge amount to both of us and to show everyone has made it even more special.
“It shows how magical music is. Music is a bridge that spans over fragmented thoughts and connects with feeling. When he is at the piano he is himself. The piano brings back his sense of self, when he plays there are no lost threads.”
Duncan added:
“Music to me is the most perfect melodies and beautiful harmonies.”
Duncan will play in the series finale at Aviva studios, where tickets have been sold to raise funds to install pianos in every railway station in the country. He added that he is available and would love to play in more fundraising events.
The moment Duncan won the episode and secured a spot in the grand finale. Image: Channel 4
To watch Duncan’s performance on The Piano, click here. The next episode of The Piano will air tonight (May 5) at 9pm.
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Ripon’s Billie Marten set to perform at Glastonbury
Ripon singer songwriter Billie Marten is set to perform at Glastonbury Festival this summer.
The 24 year old indie-folk singer is set to make her Glastonbury debut on ‘The Field of Avalon’ stage, an area the festival describes as “representing the best in the world of contemporary, roots and folk music”.
She was born in the village of Risplith, just outside Ripon, and was introduced to music at a young age thanks to her parents who surrounded her with the music of Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Kate Bush, and northern folk artist Chris Wood.
Billie attended Ripon Grammar School and won a record deal alongside studying and released ‘Ribbon’ her debut single in May 2014 aged 14.
She was then signed to Chess Club Records, an imprint of Sony. Not long afterwards, she was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2016.
Billie Marten, image Chuffmedia
Her critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Writing of Blues and Yellows’ was also released in 2016, when she was just 17. The following year, she moved to London, where she worked on her 2019 album, ‘Feeding Seahorses By Hand.’
Towards the end of 2019, Billie left Sony and chose a new management team. She signed to Fiction records, a division of Universal, in lockdown via zoom where she released her 2021 album ‘Flora Fauna’.
Since then, she has toured frequently throughout the UK and US becoming known for her soft vocals, however, she has not yet performed to a crowd as big as Glastonbury.
My very first! @glastonbury pic.twitter.com/p8KcgiuAqj
— billie (@BillieMarten) April 16, 2024
Billie released her latest record ‘Drop Cherries’ at the start of the month on April 7 via Fiction Records.
Recorded entirely on tape in Somerset and Wales late last summer, ‘Drop Cherries’ marks the very first time that she has both written and co-produced one of her records.
The 24-year-old is set to perform on the same stage as Kate Nash, Lulu and Caity Baser at Glastonbury this summer.
The festival runs from June 26 to June 30.
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