Professor Bill Dowdall, a renowned flutist and the flute professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music since 20041, shares valuable insights on flute technique and effects. In this sixth video of the series, he delves into the art of playing legato. The entire video series, aptly titled “Playing the Flute with Professor Bill Dowdall,” covers various topics to benefit both flute teachers and players. Notably, this educational initiative is generously sponsored by Trevor James Flutes
William Dowdall
Professor Dowdall has been instrumental in introducing Irish audiences to new works from the international repertoire and actively promoting the music of Irish composers abroad. Notably, several Irish composers have written pieces specifically for him. In 2006, he premiered John Buckley’s new work for flute and orchestra with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), touring it throughout Ireland. He reprised this performance with the NSO in January 2009.
Over the past two years, Professor Dowdall has given eight world premieres of compositions by Irish artists. His advocacy extends beyond Irish music; he has championed the flute works of renowned composers such as Bernstein, Boulez, Takemitsu, Henze, Varèse, and Maxwell Davies within Ireland. Recently, he presented the Irish premiere of Toru Takemitsu’s evocative piece “I Can Hear the Water Dreaming” alongside the RTÉ NSO.
As a solo artist, Professor Dowdall has recorded critically acclaimed albums for labels including Goasco, Naxos, Marco Polo, Black Box, and Celestial Harmonies. Currently, he is collaborating with Atoll Records on a project to record solo flute works from both Ireland and New Zealand, including compositions that incorporate electronic elements.
