Biography of Paul Taffanel (1844-1908)

Portrait of Paul Taffanel
Photography of Paul Taffanel
16.09.1844
Born in Bordeaux, son of a music teacher
1854
First public concert after lessons from his father
1858
Lessons from Vincent Joseph van Steenkiste, called Dorus
1860
With Dorus call to Paris he was accepted at the conservatory. First price of the conservatory for flute and member of the orchestra of the Opera Comique.
1862
First price of the conservatory for harmonics.
1864
Principal flute at the Paris Opera (until 1896)
1865
First price of the conservatory for fugue and counterpoint
1867
Member of the orchestra at the conservatory
1870
Principal flute at the Grand Opera
1872
Co-founder of Societe Classique
1874
Wedding with Saint-Saëns and Fauré playing the organ. In the same year his first composition Grande fantaisie sur "Mignon" is published, dedicated to his teacher Dorus
1876
Solo flute of the Paris Opera and winner of the gold medal of the Société des compositeurs de msique with his woodwind quintet.
12.08.1876
Unveiling of a statue to Rameau in Dijon, together with his friend and colleague Saint-Saëns
20.05.1877
The Woodwind Quintet by Taffanel wins an anonymous competition of the Société as one of14 works for this instrumentation.
1879
Initiator of the Societé de musique de chambre pour instruments à vent, to which amongst others led to the Septet of Saint-Saens and the Petite Symphonie of Gounods.
30.04.1885
Premiere of Petite Symphonie by Gounod played by Societé
1887
Conductor of the Grand Opera (may be not until 1890 or 1893)
27.02.1888
Playing the Arioso from Tschaikowskys "Eugen Onegin" with the composer in the audience.
1889
Knight of the legion of honours
1893
Lectorship of the Paris conservatory until his death. Among his students where Gaubert, Fleury, Barrere and Moyse. Due to the many duties he denies the chamber music society.
1897
Head of the orchestral class at the conservatory.
1901
Sanitary breakdown.
12.05.1907
Completion of his last work for flute and piano: Andante pastoral et scherzetto, dedicated to Gaubert
22.11.1908
Dies in Paris
He earned countless international decorations. Faure dedicated his Fantasy to him.

Sheet music for flute:

Grands Exercices Journaliers de Mécanisme (Technik)
(flute)
Alphonse Leduc, A.L. 17204
Rating: difficult
A standard edition for technical exercises. Probably member of the bookshelf of any "serious" flutist. Scales, arpeggios and intervals in countless variations, to be practiced preferably by heart.
Kadenzen zum Konzert in D-Dur von Mozart, KV 314 (D-Dur) (Kadenz)
(flute)
Alphonse Leduc, A. L. 19 491
Rating: difficult
  1. Allegro aperto
  2. Andante ma non troppo
  3. Allegro
Kadenzen zum Konzert in G-Dur von Mozart, KV 313 (G-Dur) (Kadenz)
(flute)
Alphonse Leduc, A. L. 19.492
Rating: difficult
  1. Allegro maestoso
  2. Adagio non troppo
  3. Rondo - Tempo di Minuetto
Méthode Complète de flûte - Band 1 (Schule)
edition on amazon
(flute)
Alphonse Leduc, AL24889
Rating: easy
  1. Der Ton
  2. Die Artikulation
  3. Das Legato
  4. Die Synkope
  5. Die Dritte Oktave
  6. Das Kreuz und das Be
  7. Etüde in den leichtesten Tonarten
  8. Tonleitern in allen Dur- und Molltonarten
  9. Die Atmung
  10. Die Verzierungen
  11. Die Zungenstösse
Méthode Complte de flûte - Band 2 (Schule)
edition on amazon
(flute)
Alphonse Leduc, AL16588
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Grosse tägliche mechanische Übungen
  2. 24 Progressive Etüden in allen Tonarten
  3. 12 Grosse Virtuose Etüden
  4. Erste Romanze von Xavier Leroux
  5. Nocturne von Georges Hüe
  6. Gigue von Georges Hüe
  7. Nymphen und Satyre von Albert Doyen
Oversized and linen-bound. A niece piece for collectors.
The text passages are completely in French, German and English. The second part starts with the Daily mechanic Excercises, which are also published separately. They are followed by 24 progressive etudes in all keys, the next are twelve etudes of virtuosity. Next comes a chapter about stilistic things, one about cadencas and some repertoire pieces and orchestral passages.
Quintette (g-moll)
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, oboe, clarinet in H flat, bassoon, horn in E flat)
Alphonse Leduc, AL 27 691
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro con moto
  2. Andante
  3. Vivace
Parts and score in really good quality. All movements with metronome numbers.
I liked this one very much.
Written in 1878

CDs with/from Paul Taffanel

Philippe Bernold, Phlippe Berrod, Jean-Louis Capezzali, Benoît de Barsony, Ariane Jacob, Laurent Lefèvre
Caprice (2 CD) (2008)
Taffanel, Saint-Saens, Fauré - Oeuvres pour flûte et piano
jpc
Saphr Productions
  1. Paul Taffanel: Andante pastoral (03:39:00)
  2. Paul Taffanel: Scherzettino (01:56:00)
  3. Camille Saint-Saëns: "Le Déluge" - Prélude pour flûte et piano op. 45 (03:40:00)
  4. Paul Taffanel: Fantaisie sur Le Freischütz de C. Maria von Weber (11:13:00)
  5. Paul Taffanel: Fantaisie-transcription sur "Les Indes Galantes" de J. P. Rameau (07:37:00)
  6. Peter I. Tschaikowsky: Arioso ext. de Eugen Onegin (03:10:00)
  7. Paul Taffanel: Grande Fantaisie sur "Francoise de Rimini" d´Ambroise Thomas (20:06:00)
  8. Camille Saint-Saëns: Tarantelle pour flûte, clarinette et piano op. 6 (06:44:00)
  9. Camille Saint-Saëns: Caprice sur des airs danois et russes op. 79 (10:26:00)
  10. Gabriel Fauré: "Les Joueuses de flûte" ext de "Pénélope" (03:49:00)
  11. Paul Taffanel: Sicilienne Etude op. 7 (03:55:00)
  12. Gabriel Fauré: Fantasie op. 79 (05:03:00)
  13. Paul Taffanel: Grande Fantaisie sur Mignon d´Ambroise Thomas (12:07:00)
  14. Paul Taffanel: Allegretto grazioso (01:09:00)
  15. Paul Taffanel: Allegretto scherzando (01:19:00)
  16. Paul Taffanel: Fantaisie sur Jean de Nvelle de Leo Delibes (08:12:00)
    17. Paul Taffanel: Quintette en sol mineur pour instruments à vent:
  17. Allegro (09:32:00)
  18. Andante (06:11:00)
  19. Vivace (06:09:00)
  20. Camille Saint-Saëns: Romance op. 37 (05:31:00)
Katerina Englichova, Stephen Hough, Carlo Jans, Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin
Danses et divertissements (2009)
Poulenc - Taffanel - Jolivet - Tomasi
jpc
BIS Records
    Paul Taffanel: Quintette en sol mineur pour instruments à vent:
  1. I. Allegro con moto (08:32:00)
  2. II. Andante (05:24:00)
  3. III. Vivace (07:12:00)
    4. Francis Poulenc: Sextuor pour piano et quintette à vent:
  4. I. Allegro vivace - Trés vite et emporté (07:17:00)
  5. II. Divertissement. Andantino (04:20:00)
  6. III. Finale. Prestissimo (05:20:00)
    7. André Jolivet: Serenade pour Quintette à vent avec Hautbois Principal:
  7. I. Cantilène. Moderato (04:03:00)
  8. II. Caprice. Scherzando (03:26:00)
  9. III. Intermède. Moderato (03:31:00)
  10. IV. Marche burlesque. Allegro (05:00:00)
    11. Henri Tomasi: Cinq Danses Profanes et Sacrées:
  11. I. Danse agreste. Allegretto (02:47:00)
  12. II. Danse profane. Scherzando (02:32:00)
  13. III. Danse sacrée. Lent (03:00:00)
  14. IV. Danse nuptiale. Scherzando (01:56:00)
  15. V. Danse guerrière. Sauvagement frénétique (02:17:00)
Michel Debost, Christian Ivaldi
Flute Panorama CD 2 (1993)
The Golden Age of the Conservatoire
Skarbo
  1. Gabriel Fauré: Fantaisie opus 79 (05:03:00)
  2. Georges Enescu: Cantabile et Presto (05:35:00)
  3. Alfredo Casella: Sicilienne et burlesque (08:22:00)
  4. Philippe Gaubert: Fantaisie - Moderato quasi fantasie - Lent - Vif (06:27:00)
  5. Georges Hüe: Fantaisie - Assez lent - Modere - Tres Vif (07:37:00)
  6. Louis Ganne: Andante et Scherzo (06:57:00)
  7. Philippe Gaubert: Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando (05:53:00)
  8. Paul Taffanel: Andante pastoral et Scherzettino (05:36:00)
  9. Albert Perilhou: Ballade (05:42:00)
  10. Henri Busser: Prelude et Scherzo (05:26:00)
Avalon Bläserquintett
Französische Bläserquintette (2000)
Werke von Taffanel, Ravel, Milhaud & Jolivet
Antes Edition
    Paul Taffanel: Quintette pour instruments a vent:
  1. I Allegro con moto (10:08:00)
  2. II Andante (05:41:00)
  3. III Vivace (07:08:00)
    4. Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin:
  4. I Prelude (03:06:00)
  5. II Fugue (03:17:00)
  6. III Menuet (04:13:00)
  7. IV Rigaudon (02:55:00)
    8. Darius Milhaud: La Cheminee du Roi Rene op. 205:
  8. I Cortege (00:00:01)
  9. II Aubade (00:00:01)
  10. III Jongleurs (01:09:00)
  11. IV La Maousinglade (02:31:00)
  12. V Joutes sur L'arc (00:48:00)
  13. VI Chasse a Valabre (01:28:00)
  14. VII Madrigal-Nocturne (02:16:00)
    15. André Jolivet: Serenade:
  15. I Cantilene (03:28:00)
  16. II Caprice (03:37:00)
  17. III Intermede (03:48:00)
  18. IV Marche burlesque (05:08:00)
Les Vents Français
French Music for Winds (2014)
Ibert - Jolivet - Milhaud - Ravel - Taffanel
jpc
Warner Classics
    Jacques Ibert: Trois Pièces brèves:
  1. Allegro (02:14:00)
  2. Andante (01:39:00)
  3. Assez lent - Allegro scherzando (02:45:00)
    4. Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin:
  4. Prélude (03:57:00)
  5. Fugue (03:57:00)
  6. Menuet (04:23:00)
  7. Rigaudon (03:08:00)
    8. André Jolivet: Sonatine für Oboe und Fagott:
  8. Ouverture (02:04:00)
  9. Récitatif (02:53:00)
  10. Ostinato (03:03:00)
    11. Darius Milhaud: La Cheminée du roi René op. 205:
  11. Cortége (01:59:00)
  12. Aubade (01:55:00)
  13. Jongleurs (01:13:00)
  14. La Maousinglade (02:28:00)
  15. Joutes sur l'Arc (00:53:00)
  16. Chasse à Valabre (01:42:00)
  17. Madrigal-Nocturne (02:39:00)
    18. Paul Taffanel: Wind Quintet:
  18. Allegro con moto (09:40:00)
  19. Andante (05:59:00)
  20. Vivace (07:56:00)
Pentanemos Bläserquintett
Pentanemos Bläserquintett - Was mag wohl der Grund sein (2011)
jpc
Farao Classics
    Paul Taffanel: Quintette pour instruments à vent:
  1. Allegro con moto (10:02:00)
  2. Andante (05:40:00)
  3. Vivace (00:00:07)
    4. Henri Tomasi: Cinq danses profanes et sacrées:
  4. DAnse Agreste (03:12:00)
  5. Danse Profane (02:58:00)
  6. Danse Sacrée (02:09:00)
  7. Danse Guerriére (02:16:00)
    8. Darius Milhaud: La cheminée du roi René op. 205:
  8. Cortége (02:03:00)
  9. Aubade (01:49:00)
  10. Jongleurs (01:21:00)
  11. La Maousinglade (02:27:00)
  12. Joute Sur l arc (00:56:00)
  13. Chasse à valabre (01:33:00)
  14. Madrigal Nocturne (02:45:00)
  15. Sascha Lino Lemke: Esquisses Fumeuses en Ronde Chantillais (09:22:00)
    16. Luciano Berio: Opus Number Zoo:
  16. Barn Dance (01:18:00)
  17. The Fawn (02:33:00)
  18. The grey Mouse (00:58:00)
  19. Tom Cats (02:25:00)

Literature von/über Paul Taffanel

Last edit 29.12.2020