High Performance Flute

Prof. Robert Winn (born in Hallifax) graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London and has been a student of Geoffrey Gilbert, Trevor Why und Edward Beckett. From 1985 till 1999 he was solo flutist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London and played the symphonic works of Dorati, Maazel, Previn, Davis, Masur und Ashkenazy. Composers like Beriot, Lloyd Webber, Peter Maxwell Davies, Maurice Jarre, Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie have requested him to play their works.

Next to his grand experiences in the classical music business - he has been awardee of numerous competitions, like the Martin-Trust-Scholarship in London and the Capital Radio Ann Innstone Award - he has participated as a flutist in several Hollywood films like Lord of the Rings, Notting Hill, The English Patient and more.

Through his teaching activities (from 1994-1998 he was professor at the Academy of Music Franz Liszt in Weimar and in 1999 he received a professorship for flute at the Music Academy in Cologne) he has been working with musicians such as Sir Peter Pears, Heather Harper Hubert Käppel, Gideon Kremer, Andre Previn, Robert Masters and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Robert Winn was a guest lecturer at numerous master classes in Canada, Australia, Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic. His textbooks for beginners and advanced flute students and textbooks which relate to specific technical topics of playing the flute are available through the AMA Verlag.

The thirds volume 'high performance flute' completes the series of Robert Winns successful ' AMA Flute method' (AMA610209) and 'Getting' On With It' (AMA610 243E).

This volume contains more than 80 pieces which are ranged in difficulty from easy to challenging. It can be used by beginners and middle school students and even parallel with the first two volumes of the 'AMA Flute Method'. Parallel to this book, breathing techniques and scales can be practiced through ' I love Scales' by Robert Winn (AMA610244).

New technical aspects (such as glissando and improvisation) are only a few of the added topics, for the author it is rather important that the student gets playing practice and is also able to play with a duet partner on the piano (31 pieces are written for flute and piano).

The selection of the pieces move through all musical eras, ranging from baroque to classical to jazz and gospel. Here comes a small selection: The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, 'Solveig's Song' by E. Grieg, the Prisoners' Chorus from 'Nabucco' by G. Verdi or the overture from The Marriage of Figaro by WA Mozart. Famous compositions from the baroque period by JS Bach, GP Telemann or GF Handel are available, as from the Romantic period by R. Schumann, A. Dvo?ák and E. Grieg with a piece from the Peer Gynt Suite.

On the CD (including playbacks) the pieces were recorded with members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London.