# Robert Duncan (composer)

Robert Duncan is a composer of film and television music. 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. 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.

## Early life

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Duncan was born into a family with deep musical history. 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. As a child he attended the Claude Watson School of the Performing Arts and in sixth grade he composed his first piece of music. At age 16 in high school, he landed his first gig scoring a promotional video for the local Board of Education. As an extra curricular activity, Duncan studied the pipe organ and trumpet before later earning a bachelor's degree in music at York University.

## Career

After graduating, Duncan spent the next 5 years apprenticing with two Canadian composers and participated in the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop. He wanted to do more, wanted to write scores for live orchestra but he thought the chances of succeeding in Canada were slim so in 2001 he moved to Los Angeles, Hollywood. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Duncan was hired as a series composer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After the show ended, he started to land his own television and film scoring assignments. 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., he is best known for his work on Castle.

## Instruments

Duncan 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.

## Cameos

Duncan 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.

## Scores
### Television series

| 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 | |
| 2006 | Vanished | |
| 2009 | Castle | |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | |
| 2010 | The Gates | |
| 2010 | Terriers | |
| 2011 | The Chicago Code | |
| 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

| 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 |
| 2011 | The Entitled |
| 2017 | Spark (2016 film) |