Claude-Paul Taffanel

Claude-Paul Taffanel (1844–1908) was a French flautist, conductor and instructor, regarded as the founder of the French Flute School. Born in Bordeaux, Taffanel received his first lessons on the flute from his father at the age of nine. After giving his first concert at the age of ten, he studied with Vincent Dorus at the Paris Conservatoire, graduating in 1860. Taffanel built a substantial career as both soloist and orchestral player over 30 years, becoming known as the foremost flautist of his time and reestablishing the instrument in the mainstream of music. In 1893, he became Professor of Flute at the Conservatoire. As Professor, he revised the institute's repertoire and teaching methods, restructuring the traditional masterclass format to give students individual attention while building a reputation as an inspiring teacher. Beginning in 1894, he replaced much of the 19th-century music with works by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers of the 18th century. His work sparked and helped fuel a growing interest in France in early music. In addition to his teaching duties, Taffanel became an important opera and orchestra conductor, serving from 1890 to 1906 as chief conductor at both the Paris Opéra and the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. His duties at the Opéra included directing all new productions, among which during his tenure were French premieres of various Wagner operas and Verdi's Otello. Chamber music did not escape Taffanel's attention. Founding the Société de musique de chambre pour instruments à vent (Society of Chamber Music for Wind Instruments) in 1879, he revived the wind ensemble music of Mozart and Beethoven while also encouraging the composition of many new works. Taffanel was also a fluent composer for the flute and wind quintet, writing several pieces considered part of the standard flute repertoire today. These include: Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino, Grande Fantaisie sur Mignon, Fantaisie sur thèmes du Freischütz, Quintet in G minor (for woodwind quintet) (1876). He also began writing a method book for flute, 17 Grands exercices journaliers de mécanisme, which was finished after his death by two of his students, Louis Fleury and Philippe Gaubert.