Leading Irish flautist Bill Dowdall holds a workshop on avant-garde flute techniques in CMC on 22 May.

Under the title To Slide or not to Slide, Dowdall will demonstrate how he uses a special head-joint for the flute, which enables the player to slide between pitches and to produce multiphonics.

'While the modern flute is essentially the instrument as developed by Boehm,' Dowdall said, 'recent innovations include the Glissando Head-joint® invented by the American flautist Robert Dick. This new device revolutionises the manner in which the flute can glide between pitches. It is operated by placing two prongs on the player's jaw, allowing the head-joint to slide freely over a range of a third.'

Dowdall has utilised its new technical resources in works by John Buckley (his Sea Echoes), Ian Wilson's Lios na Gaoithe and Raymond Deane's Ventalia.

This practical workshop takes place in the Contemporary Music Centre and is aimed at composers, performers and advanced flute students at third level. Places are limited so advance booking is essential. A nominal registration fee of €5 is payable.

To Slide or not to Slide with Bill Dowdall. Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Dublin 8. Friday, 22 May 2009, 6.00-7.30pm. Light refreshments served.

Further information and bookings: Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, tel. 01-673 1922 or email khennessy@cmc.ie.

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music. The Centre is supported by the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaion and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.