Robert Duncan is a composer of film and television music.[1] He has composed music for such TV series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Castle; as well as films such as Butterfly on a Wheel and Into the Blue 2: The Reef.[2] He has been associated with writer/producer Shawn Ryan, composing some of his produced TV shows including The Unit, Lie to Me, Timeless and more recently S.W.A.T.. He has received fourteen ASCAP awards.
Robert Duncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Musical Composer |
| Instrument(s) | Organ, trumpet, drums, piano, guitar |
| Website | duncanmusic |
Early life
editBorn and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Duncan was born into a family with deep musical history.[2] His great-grandfather arranged music for silent films in England and other relatives were closely affiliated with two of England's prominent composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten.[2] As a child he attended the Claude Watson School of the Performing Arts and in sixth grade he composed his first piece of music.[3] At age 16 in high school, he landed his first gig scoring a promotional video for the local Board of Education.[3] As an extra curricular activity, Duncan studied the pipe organ and trumpet[3] before later earning a bachelor's degree in music at York University.[2]
Career
editAfter graduating, Duncan spent the next 5 years apprenticing with two Canadian composers[4] and participated in the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop.[3] He wanted to do more, wanted to write scores for live orchestra but he thought the chances of succeeding in Canada were slim[4] so in 2001[5] he moved to Los Angeles, Hollywood.[4] Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Duncan was hired as a series composer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[3] After the show ended, he started to land his own[clarify] television and film scoring assignments.[2] Landing many small screen projects including The Chicago Code, Terriers, The Gates, Lie to Me, The Unit, Point Pleasant, Tru Calling, and S.W.A.T.,[5] he is best known for his work on Castle.
Instruments
editDuncan uses a variety of traditional and peculiar objects and instruments to create his scores. These objects include; grand pianos, deconstructed pianos, metal brushes, hot rod exhaust pipes, fire extinguishers, trumpet, guitar, pipe organ, a variety of drums, and even objects from junk yards all over Los Angeles.[3]
Cameos
editDuncan made on screen appearances on Castle Season 4, Episode 14 “The Blue Butterfly” in the opening scene as a jazz club pianist on the baby grand piano as well as Season 8, Episode 8 "Mr. and Mrs. Castle" as a cruise ship pianist.[6]
Scores
editTelevision series
edit| Year | Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal | Co-composed with Lou Natale |
| 2001 | Starhunter | |
| 2001 | Blue Murder | Co-composed with Lou Natale |
| 2002 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | |
| 2003 | Tru Calling | |
| 2005 | Point Pleasant | |
| 2006 | The Unit[2] | |
| 2006 | Vanished | |
| 2009 | Castle | |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | |
| 2010 | The Gates[2] | |
| 2010 | Terriers[2] | |
| 2011 | The Chicago Code[2] | |
| 2012 | Last Resort | |
| 2012 | Missing | |
| 2014 | Rush | |
| 2016 | The Family | |
| 2016 | Mad Dogs | |
| 2016-18 | Timeless | |
| 2017-23 | S.W.A.T. | |
| 2018 | The Crossing | |
| 2018 | Take Two | |
| 2021-23 | The Equalizer | |
| 2023 | The Night Agent |
Film
edit| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave |
| 2005 | Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis |
| 2007 | Butterfly on a Wheel |
| 2009 | Into the Blue 2: The Reef[2] |
| 2011 | The Entitled |
| 2017 | Spark (2016 film) |