Founder of the French Flute School, Claude-Paul Taffanel was
one of the most recognized flutists during the late 19th century and
his legacy spanned first half of the 20th. Born on September 16, 1844 in
Bordeaux, France, he received his first instruction on the flute from his
father at the age of nine. He gave his first concert the following year, and then entered the prestigious
Paris Conservatoire where he studied with Louis Dorus. Following his graduation
in 1860, he successfully built a career as both a soloist and orchestral
performer.
By the time he returned to the Conservatoire in 1893 as
Professor of Flute, Taffanel was the foremost performer on the instrument as he
embarked on the most influential part of his career. He revised the
Conservatoire's curriculum and masterclass formats, allotting more time for
students to receive individual instruction. By his pupils, he was viewed as an
inspiring teacher. He also revived the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other
18th century musicians, bringing the now four-score year old "Bach
Revival" to France. Alongside this interest in older music, he also
commissioned new works for the flute from his contemporary Gabriel Fauré, as
well as being the dedicatee of works by Charles-Marie
Widor and George Enescu.
All of Taffanel's work, both as a performer and instructor,
came at a crucial point in the development of the flute. Theobald Böhm had
perfected the modern fingering system for the flute in 1847. Though Böhm was
himself a celebrated composer for the instrument, it was Taffanel that
established it as an instrument of elegance and expressiveness. In addition,
Taffanel also composed several important works for the flute, as well as the
wind quintet, that have since become staples of the flute repertoire. He also
began work on a method book entitled 17 Grands Exercices Journaliers De
Mecanisme. It was left incomplete
at his death but was taken up and finished by two of his students, Louis Fleury
and Philippe Gaubert. It is now the standard method book for flute students
today.
Besides his many contributions to the flute,
Taffanel served as conductor of the Paris Opéra from 1890 until 1906, and was
the first flutist to hold the position. While there he premiered several of
Wagner's operas and Verdi's Otello.
He likewise served as conductor of the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire and founded the Société de musique de
chambre pour instruments à vent (Society of Chamber Music for Wind
Instruments), which helped revive the wind ensemble music of Mozart and
Beethoven. Paul Taffanel died in Paris on November 22, 1908.
Claude-Paul Taffanel
Biography
Founder of the French Flute School, Claude-Paul Taffanel was one of the most recognized flutists during the late 19th century and his legacy spanned first half of the 20th. Born on September 16, 1844 in Bordeaux, France, he received his first instruction on the flute from his father at the age of nine. He gave his first concert the following year, and then entered the prestigious Paris Conservatoire where he studied with Louis Dorus. Following his graduation in 1860, he successfully built a career as both a soloist and orchestral performer.
By the time he returned to the Conservatoire in 1893 as Professor of Flute, Taffanel was the foremost performer on the instrument as he embarked on the most influential part of his career. He revised the Conservatoire's curriculum and masterclass formats, allotting more time for students to receive individual instruction. By his pupils, he was viewed as an inspiring teacher. He also revived the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other 18th century musicians, bringing the now four-score year old "Bach Revival" to France. Alongside this interest in older music, he also commissioned new works for the flute from his contemporary Gabriel Fauré, as well as being the dedicatee of works by Charles-Marie Widor and George Enescu.
All of Taffanel's work, both as a performer and instructor, came at a crucial point in the development of the flute. Theobald Böhm had perfected the modern fingering system for the flute in 1847. Though Böhm was himself a celebrated composer for the instrument, it was Taffanel that established it as an instrument of elegance and expressiveness. In addition, Taffanel also composed several important works for the flute, as well as the wind quintet, that have since become staples of the flute repertoire. He also began work on a method book entitled 17 Grands Exercices Journaliers De Mecanisme. It was left incomplete at his death but was taken up and finished by two of his students, Louis Fleury and Philippe Gaubert. It is now the standard method book for flute students today.
Besides his many contributions to the flute, Taffanel served as conductor of the Paris Opéra from 1890 until 1906, and was the first flutist to hold the position. While there he premiered several of Wagner's operas and Verdi's Otello. He likewise served as conductor of the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire and founded the Société de musique de chambre pour instruments à vent (Society of Chamber Music for Wind Instruments), which helped revive the wind ensemble music of Mozart and Beethoven. Paul Taffanel died in Paris on November 22, 1908.