Germaine Tailleferre

Classical Music / Composers Datebook: April 19 

French composer Germaine (Marcelle) Tailleferre (April 19, 1892 – November 7, 1983) was the only female member of ‘Les Six’, a group of French composers influenced by Erie Satie and by Jean Cocteau’s anti-Romantic aesthetic. She wrote operas, ballets, instrumental music and film scores.

Tailleferre was born in Parc-Sait-Maur near Paris. Despite her father’s opposition, she entered Paris Conservatoire in 1904. She studied with Maurice Ravel and Charles Koechlin. Her former tutor was Sautereau-Meyer.

Aside from being a composer, she was a piano prodigy who began to compose at age 5. She had an amazing memory and won numerous prizes.Her numerous works include the opera Il etait un petit navire (1951), and the ballet Le marchand d'oiseaux (1923).



Here's Germaine Tailleferre's Ballade for piano and orchestra (1920). Uploaded: Wellesz Theatre. Accessed April 19, 2020. 




Suggested Listening:

Germaine Tailleferre's Romance for Pianoforte. Uploaded by the WelleszCompany. Accessed March 8, 2019. 

Suggested Reading:

Germaine Tailleferre. Music Sales Classical. Accessed March 7, 2019.  

Image Credit:

Germaine Tailleferre. Women of Note.  oboeclassics.com. Accessed April 20, 2016



(c) April 19, 2016. Updated April 19, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.