Paraphrases

From the liner notes of CRI SD 342:

Paraphrases, as the title suggests, consists of a set of paraphrase variations on three basic thematic ideas which could be described roughly as; 1) a run of fast notes, some of which are flutter-tongued; 2) a group of slower notes of almost equal time value, interspersed with grace notes in a different register; and 3) arpeggios. The variation procedure is cyclic.

Paraphrases is a performer’s piece; that is, the performer is given considerable leeway in executing some aspects of the piece. I was extremely fortunate to find in James Winn a flutist who can play it so that the large scale design and flow are maintained without sacrificing the detail.

Flautist James Winn adds: Paraphrases succeeds primarily by exploiting the facility of the flute for shifts of register and dynamics so that several contrapuntal lines may be perceived at once. The Bach A minor Partita, the first great work for solo flute, utilizes the same fundamental technique.