Paul Taffanel

Claude-Paul Taffanel (16 September 1844 - 22 November 1908) was a french flutist who has become known as the father of the French Flute School.  Born in Bordeaux, France, his first lessons were from his father around the age of nine, with his first concert at the age of ten.  After this, he studied with Vincent Dorus at the Paris Conservatory. He graduated in 1860 at the age of sixteen.  

In 1893, Taffanel became Professor of Flute at the Conservatoire and revamped the required repertoire for his students. He instructed his students to play in a new, smoother style that included a lighter vibrato than his predecessors used. He also placed heavier importance on the works of J. S. Bach. Before this, 19th century works of “idle twittering” were majorly focused on. During this time, Bach’s works were enjoying a renaissance within the rest of Europe, but were being ignored in France. Taffanel brought Bach’s works back to France at the Conservatoire.  

In 1897, Taffanel became the head of the orchestra class at the Conservatoire while simultaneously (from 1890-1906) was the conductor for the Paris Opera and the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire.

Taffanel was also a skilled composer with compositions including:

• Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino
• Grande Fantasie (Mignon)
• Fantasie, Themes/ Der Freischutz
• Quintette in G minor (for woodwind quintet) (1876)

Perhaps his most famous composition is not of a piece at all, but of the method book 17 Grands Exercices Journaliers De Mecanisme. Unfortunately, Taffanel passed away before this book was finished. Two of his students, Louis Fleury and Philippe Gaubert, finished this book for him and today it is a standard among flute method books in which almost all flutists have worked from.

Because of his influence and dedication to the flute, Taffanel has had many works dedicated to him including Fantasie, by Gabriel Fauré and Cantabile and Presto by George Enescu.  Both of these works along with Taffanel’s Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino can be found in “Flute Music by French Composers” published by G. Schirmer Inc. and edited by Loius Moyse (whose mini bio is coming soon!)