Biographical sketch
"A Marie Laurencin for the Ear" was how Jean Cocteau described the music of Germaine Tailleferre, the only female member of the famous Group des Six (which also included Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honneger, Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc). This quotation, which brings to mind the essentially decorative watercolors of Laurencin, was perhaps an unfortunate association. Images of naiveté, "freshness" and essentially "feminine" art have been associated with the Music of Germaine Tailleferre since she began her career with the launching of the Group in 1920. If one wishes to play the game of absolutely making a comparison between music and painting, it is more evident to compare the painting of Sonia Delaunay with the music of Germaine Tailleferre, given the rich sound palette that Tailleferre tends to use.
An idea has been put forward is that Tailleferre wrote a series of short charming works, especially for the piano, during the 1920's-1930's and essentially stopped composing after the end of World War II. While Tailleferre did write many shorter works for the piano, as well as songs and chamber music, she also wrote two piano concerti, as well as the Three Études for Piano and Orchestra, a Violin Concerto, Three Vocal Concerti, a Concerto Grosso for two Pianos, Eight Solo Voices, Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra, four full-length ballet scores, Four full lengths Operas as well as many shorter operas, two musical comedies as well as a great deal of orchestral and chamber music. Much of this music was written in the period between 1945 and her death in 1983. The majority of this music has been, up until the recent past, unpublished and unrecorded. It has only been recently possible to have a more complete picture of Tailleferre's work and her value as a composer.
Germaine Tailleferre was born April 19. 1892 at Saint Maur Des Fossés, a suburb of Paris. Her Mother, Marie-Desiré Taillefesse was forced by her father to break her engagement with another man and to marry the young Arthur Taillefesse because he had the same family name. This arranged married proved to be very unhappy, and Marie-Desiré's only solace was in her children. The young Germaine began studying piano with her mother at home and also composing short works. Despite her father's opposition, she began studying piano and solfege at the Paris Conservatory, where she would win a first prize in solfege. This initial success also lead to her father's acceptance of her musical vocation, although he would refuse to support her studies financially. Her revenge came later when she changed her name from the slightly risqué "Taillefesse" to the more attractive "Tailleferre".
Tailleferre met Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric and Arthur Honneger at the Paris Conservatory in 1912 and also began to be seen with the artistic set in Montmartre and in Montparnasse, which included Apollinaire, Laurencin, Paul Fort, Fernand Léger and the sculptor Emmanuel Centore, who married Tailleferre's sister Jeanne. In 1913, she won a first prize in Counterpoint and in Harmony at the Conservatory and in 1915, she won a First prize in Fugue. During her period at the Conservatory, she also became acquainted with the Assistant Professor of Harp, Caroline Tardieu, for whom she wrote the 18 short works in the Petit Livre de Harp de Madame Tardieu.
It was her artistic connections, which by 1917 also included Picasso and Modigliani, however which lead to her initial success It was in the Montparnasse atelier of one of her painter friends where the initial concert of the "Nouveaux Jeunes" took place, which also included Francis Poulenc and Louis Durey on January 15, 1918, with Tailleferre's Jeux de Pleine Aire as well as her Sonatine for String Quartet, which was later to become the String Quartet (with the addition of a third movement). The publication of Jean Cocteau's manifest for a typically French Music Le Coq et L'Harlequin in 1918 paved the way for Henri Collet's articles in 1920 in the French journal Commedia. It was also Collet who choose the name Les Six, in direct reference to the Five Russians of the 19th century nationalist movement. These two articles, which appeared in January of 1920, lead to overnight fame for the famous group Des Six, which only officially participated in one project together, an album of Piano works. The six musicians remained close for the rest of their lives.
The legend that Durey ended the Group Des Six with by refusing to participate in Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel is not exactly true. The work was supposed to be written by Auric who did not have time to finish the commission in time. In order to help their friend, the work was parceled out to the other members of the Group who were available and Durey, who was not in Paris at the time, simply didn't take part. The Group Des Six existed in spirit up to Tailleferre's death in 1983, and even today, the children and friends of the various members continue to see each other.
Tailleferre's First Violin Sonata was written for Jacques Thibaud, a French Violinist with whom she had a close friendship and was premièred in 1922 by Thibaud and Alfred Cortot in Paris. During 1923, her ballet "Le Marchand d'Oiseaux" scored a great success with the Ballets Suédois. The Princess de Polignac commissioned Tailleferre to write a Piano Concerto in same neo-classical style as "Le Marchand" which was premièred to great success by Alfred Cortot.
In 1923, Tailleferre began to spend a great deal of time with Maurice Ravel at his home in Monfort-L'Amaury. Tailleferre had met Ravel in Saint Jean de Luz near Biarritz in 1919-1920 when she spent the Summer with Jean Cocteau's cousin Marianne Singer. Ravel championed Tailleferre's work, even encouraging her to enter the infamous Prix de Rome Competition. This relationship was not romantic, as some sources have suggested, but merely an friendly exchange of professional competence: Ravel was very interested in the music written by Stravinsky as well as Les Six and gave Tailleferre advice on orchestration and composition. These visits, usually in the form of long hikes in the countryside around Monfort, followed by long sessions with Tailleferre playing for Ravel at the piano, mysteriously ended suddenly in 1930 and Tailleferre never saw Ravel again. She refused to give a specific reason, even to her closest friends.
In 1925, Tailleferre married the American caricaturist Ralph Barton and established herself in his apartment in Manhattan. During her marriage to Barton, she also became close to Mr. Barton's best friend, Charlie Chaplin. It was during this period that she composed her Concertino for Harp, which is dedicated to her husband. Barton did not appreciate his wife's reputation as a serious composer and it was difficult for her to compose during her marriage. In 1927, on Barton's urging, the couple moved to France and Tailleferre received a commission from Paul Claudel to write music for his dramatic ode in honor of the Scientist Marcelin Berthelot, which was entitled "Sous les Rempart d'Athènes". The original score of this work has been lost, but a reconstruction has been done by the Tailleferre specialist Paul Wehage. Tailleferre also completed a ballet La Nouvelle Cythère which was intended for the ill-fated 1929 season of the Ballets Russes which was canceled after Diaghilev's sudden death. The work was believed lost for many years, but the two-piano short score is now published by Musik Fabrik. An orchestration for Concert band has also been reconstructed by Paul Wehage.
1929 also marked the end of her marriage to Ralph Barton, who was to commit suicide several months after returning to America. Her Six Chansons Françaises may be seen as a reaction to her divorce, using texts from the XV to XVIII centuries which speak of the problems of women in decaying relationships. Each of the six songs was dedicated to one of her female friends and may be seen as a rather rare expression of feminism in Tailleferre's work.
During 1931, Tailleferre's main project was a comic opera Zoulaina which has never been produced and probably exists in manuscript. In November of 1931, she gave birth to her only child, Françoise. In 1932, she married her daughter's father, the French Lawyer Jean Lageat. Again, this marriage did not have a positive effect on her composition because of her husband's critical attitude towards her musical life. In spite of his opposition, she was extremely productive during this period, composing the Suite for Chamber orchestra "Divertissement dans le style de Louis XV", her Violin Concerto which has been lost in it's original form (the second Sonata for Violin and Piano is a the reduction of the Concerto, without the initial Cadenza) and her masterpiece, the Concerto Grosso for Two Pianos, Saxophone Quartet, Eight Solo voices and Orchestra (1934). She also began her long series of film scores during this period. In 1937, she collaborated with Paul Valéry on her Cantate Pour Narcisse, for solo Soprano, Baritone, Women's chorus and strings.
During the beginning of 1942, Tailleferre completed her "Trois Études pour Piano et Orchestre" which were dedicated to Margarite Long and her friend François Lang. The work exists in two-piano form and has recently been orchestrated by the American Composer and Tailleferre scholar Paul Wehage. The German Occupation of France during WW2 lead to increased hardships and Tailleferre and her daughter were forced to leave their home in Grasse to try to find passage to America. Traveling across Spain to Portugal, they finally found passage on a boat headed for the US, where they spent the War years in Philadelphia. She did not compose much during this period, preferring to devote herself to the upbringing of her child. She did write an Ave Maria for a cappella women's chorus which was premièred at Swarthmore College and has been lost.
Tailleferre returned to France in 1946, and reestablished herself in Grasse, near Nice. Her relationship with Lagaet was deteriorating, but the couple remained married. Her first major work after returning to France was the Ballet "Paris-Magie" which was premièred at the Opéra Comique in 1949 to very favorable reviews. This was followed by her Comic Opera "Il était un Petit Navire" with a surreal book by Henri Jeanson which was not well received due to extensive cuts in the score made by the stage director and the conductor. She also wrote during this period her Second Piano Concerto, which has been lost, her famous Harp sonata, the Concerto for flute, Piano and Orchestra, the musical comedy Parfums, written for Monte Carlo in 1951 and which has been lost, and the Ballet Parisiana which was premièred in Copenhagen in 1953.
In 1955, Lagaet and Tailleferre finally officially divorced and Germaine's daughter Françoise gave birth to her daughter, Elivre de Rudder. During this same year, she wrote her series of five short Comic Operas Du Style Galant au Style Méchant for Radio France. During the following year, she wrote her Concerto des Vaines Paroles (text by Jean Tardieu) which has been lost, except for the transcription of the First Movement "Allegro Concertante". In 1957, during a brief period of experimentation with the twelve tone technique, she wrote her Opera "La Petite Sirène" as well as her Sonata for Clarinet Solo as well as a work for her friends the Piano Duo Gold and Fitzdale, the Toccata for Two Pianos. The decade ended with her opera Le Maître based on a play by Eugene Ionesco.
Due to her daughter's personal life, Tailleferre became the guardian of Elivre, her granddaughter. During the sixties, she composed a large number of scores for films and television as well as her Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra, (which has recently been found at Radio France and which is now available through Musik Fabrik) and Hommage à Rameau for Two pianos and two percussionists. In 1970, she became a professor at the Schola Cantorum but soon left the post due to lack of students for her classes. Through a mutual friend she met the composer Desiré Dondeyne who encouraged her to write for the symphonic band and also helped her complete several projects.
From 1970 on, it became increasingly difficult for her to support herself and her granddaughter and in 1976, at the age of 84, she took the post of accompanist for a children's music and movement class at a private school in Paris. It was this financial security which allowed her to complete her last series of works, which include the Sonata for Two Pianos, The Sérénade en La mineur for four winds and piano or harpsichord, "Choral et Variations" for Two Pianos or Orchestra and the Sonate Champêtre for Three Winds and Piano. Her last major work was a commission from the French Cultural Ministry which was intended merely to be a charitable gesture, but which lead the 89 year-old composer to write her Concerto de la Fidelité for high voice and Orchestra, which is a reworking of her harp sonata and an earlier work for high voice and orchestra. Tailleferre continued to compose up until a few weeks before her death, on November 7, 1983 in Paris. She is buried in Quincy-Voisins near Meaux.
Chronological Works List
This list of works includes serious concert works, film and television score and popular works. It does not include arrangements, harmonisations or transcriptions. In the interests of clarity, some works which are essentially the same works with different titles (the Concerto for Soprano and Orchestra and the Concerto de la Fidelité, for example) have been omitted.
There is a great deal of discussion amongst musicologists as to the authenticity of the various catalogs already published in the handful of biographical works devoted to Germaine Tailleferre, one of which even includes a category of "titles which were not given by the composer"[1]. Many works included in those catalogs are missing from this list because they cannot be verified by either published scores or primary manuscript sources. In order to establish this catalog, we used three types of sources:
1. Works which are easily verifiable through either published scores, recordings, copies of film and television presentations kept in national archives and works for which concert programmes have been kept at libraries or archives.
2. The records kept at the SACEM (the French performing rights association), using both the old paper catalog and the new computerized catalog.
3. Robert Orledge's catalog of manuscript sources in Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) : A Centenary Appraisal" Muziek & Wetenshap 2 (Summer 1992) which he examined in Paris during September, 1991, which include complete scientific descriptions of the manuscript objects.
- 1909 Impromptu for Piano : published by Jobert (Lemoine), 1912
Impromptu Pour Piano By Germaine Tailleferre. Published by Jobert. (510030940)
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- 1910 Premières Prouesses for Piano 4 hands : dedicated to "Mesdemoiselles Maria et Thérèse de Kervegueri", published by (Lemoine), Jobert (Lemoine), 1911
Premieres Prouesses By Germaine Tailleferre. Published by Jobert. (510026320)
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- 1910 Morceau de Lecture for Harp, written for the harp sight-reading class of Caroline Luigini-Tardieu, the assistant of Hasselmans at the Paris Conservatory, this short work became part of the 18 pieces in "Le Petit Livre de Harpe de Madame Tardieu, published by Musik Fabrik (2003)
Petit Livre de Harpe de Mme Tardieu By Germaine Tailleferre. For harp. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt018)
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- 1912 Fantasie sur un thème de G. Cassade Piano Quintette, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1913 Berceuse for Violin/Piano, dedicated to "mon maître et Ami Monsieur H. Dallier", published by Eschig, 1924
- 1913 Romance for Piano, dedicated to "Madame Germaine Tassart", first published in Le Monde Musicale May 15, 1924, then by Eschig, 1924,
Romance Piano Solo. By Germaine Tailleferre. This edition: ME0048400. Editions Durand. 5 pages. Published by Editions Durand. (50560624)
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- 1913-1917 Le Petit Livre de Harpe de Mme Tardieu for Harp, written for the harp sight-reading class of Caroline Luigini-Tardieu, the assistant of Hasselmans at the Paris Conservatory, this work contains 18 short "préludes" for solo pedal harp, several of which can be performed on a single action pedal harp, published by Musik Fabrik( (2003),
- 1917 Jeux de Plein Air (Outdoor games) for 2 pianos, in two movements 1. La Tirelitentaine, 2. Cache-cache Mitoula, dedicated by 1. Marcelle Meyer and 2. Juliette Méerovitch, Première: August 15, 1918, Société Internationale de Musique: Ricardo Viñes and Germaine Tailleferre, pianos, published by Durand;, 1919
- 1924? Jeux de Plein Air (Outdoor games) for orchestra, in two movements 1. La Tirelitentaine, 2. Cache-cache Mitoula, Première: March 5, 1926, Boston Symphony under the direction of Serge Koussevitzky: Orledge notes that in September, 1991 the orchestral score and parts were in the composer's papers. The whereabouts of this material is currently unknown.
- 1917-1919 Quatuor à Cordes (String Quartet) (originally "Sonatine pour cordes" with mvts 1 and 2 only), 3 mvts, 1. Modéré, 2. Intermède, 3. Vif, dedication: "à Arthur Rubinstein", Première : "Sonatine pour cordes", December 1, 1917 with Hélène Jourdane-Morhange, Marguerite Lutz, Fernard Capelle, Félix Delgrange: "Quatuor à Cordes", Causeries René Chalupt, February 5, 1918, Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier, published by Durand, 1921
- 1917 Calme et Sans Lenteur for Piano Trio, initially the second movement of the 1917 version of the Piano Trio Première: "Musique d'avant-garde", Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier December 11, 1917, with Hélène Jourdane-Morhange, violin, Juliette Méerovitch, Violoncello and Félix Delgrange, Piano (this movement should only be performed separately from the movements in the 1978 version of the Piano Trio and never as the 1917 piano trio),
Calme Sans Lenteur By Germaine Tailleferre. For Violin, cello and Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt019)
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- 1918 Image for flute, clarinet, celesta, piano, string quartet, dedication "à Madame José-Maria Sert", première : "Peinture et Musique", April 15, 1919, Concerts Huyghens, with Pierre Bertin, Ricardo Viñes, Fernand Capelle, Germaine Dill, Marguerite Lutz, De Carmé, Duquès, PIgassou, published by Chester (rental only).
- 1918 Image for Piano 4 hands, reduction of the work for Chamber ensemble
- 1919 Pastorale (in D) for Piano, in the "Album des Six", dedication "à Darius Milhaud", published by Eschig
Album des Six (score) By [Collection]; Auric, Georges (1899-1983); Durey, Louis (1888-1979); Honegger, Arthur (1892-1955); Milhaud, Darius (1892-1974); Poulenc, Francis (1899-1963); Tailleferre, Germaine (1892-1983). For piano solo. Original Works. Reprinted from Eschig. 20th Century, French. Score. Composed 1919. Published by Masters. (M2502)
See more info... - 1920 Morceau Symphonique for Piano/Orchestra, initial version of the Ballade for Piano and Orchestra
- 1920 Très Vite for Piano, dedication "à Madame Jane Mortui, St Jean de Luz, Octobre 1920", published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1920 Hommage à Debussy for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1920 Ballade for Piano and Orchestra (2+pic.2+ca.22/4331/timp.perc/2hp.cel/str), dedication : "à Ricardo Viñes", Première "Concerts Pasdeloup", February 3, 1920, Richardo Viñes, Orchestre Pasdeloup, Rhené-Bâton, conducter. published by Chester, two piano reduction available
- 1920 Fandango for 2 Pianos, published by Musik Fabrik
Fandango By Germaine Tailleferre. For 2 pianos (set of 2 parts). Set of Two Parts. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt010)
See more info... - 1921 Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel : Quadrille/Valse des Dépeches (orch. valse: Darius Milhaud) for Orchestra, Première : June 18, 1921, Ballets Suédois, Choreography: Jean Börlin, Set design: Irène Lagut, Costumes and Masks: Jean Hugo published by Salabert, 1962
- 1921 Première Sonate for Violin and Piano, 1. Modéré sans lenteur, 2. Scherzo: Pas très vite et sans rigeur, 3. Assez Lent, 4. Final: Très Vite, dedication : "à Jacques Thibaud", première: June 17, 1922 Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier, Jacques Thibaud, Violin, Alfred Cortot, Piano : published by Durand, 1923
Sonata No. 1 Violin and Piano. By Germaine Tailleferre. This edition: DF1025600. Editions Durand. 44 pages. Published by Editions Durand. (50560953)
See more info... - 1923 Le Marchand d'Oiseaux Ballet for Orchestra, ballet in one act 1. Ouverture, 2.Valse, 3. Allegretto, 4. Jardinières, 5. Pavane, 6. Finale dedication : "à Marguerite di Pietro", première : May 25. 1923, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Les Ballets Suédois: choreography: Jean Börlin, Sets and Costumes: Hélène Perdriat, published by Heugel (Leduc) (version for two pianos available, orchestra parts on rental), 1923
- 1923 Concerto no. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, 1. Allegro, 2. Adagio, 3. Final: Allegro non troppo, Dedication : "à la princesse Édmond de Polignac", première : March 20, 1925, The Philidelphia Orchestra, Alfred Cortot, Piano, published by Heugel (Leduc) (version for two pianos available, orchestra parts on rental), 1925
- 1924 Adagio for Violin and Piano, transcription of the slow movement of the Piano Concerto no. 1, première : November 6, 1924, Claude Lévy, Violin, Germaine Tailleferre, Piano, published by Heugel (Leduc), 1924
- 1925 Berceuse du Petit Elephant for Solo Voice/Chorus/F Horns, 1925, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1925 Mon Cousin de Cayenne, incidental music for Ensemble, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1925 Ban'da for Chorus and Orchestra, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1927 Concertino for Harp and Orchestra 1. Allegretto, 2. Lento, 3. Rondo; Dedication : "à Ralph Barton", première : March 3, 1927, Boston Symphony, directed by Serge Koussevitzky, published by Heugel (Leduc), 1928 (parts on rental, piano reduction available)
- 1927 Sous Le Rempart d'Athènes, text by Paul Claudel for the centenary of Marcelin Berthelot, première : October 24, 1927, Palais de l'Elysée, Paris France, Orchestre (?) under the direction of Désiré-Émile Inglebrecht, published by Musik Fabrik (in preparation)
- 1928 Deux Valses for Two Pianos, 1. Valse Lente (dedication : "à Henri Sauget") 2. Valse Brillante (dedication : "à Vittorio Rieti") published by Lemoine,
- 1928 Pastorale en Lab for Piano, dedication "à Ralph (Barton)", published by Heugel (Leduc)
- 1928 Sicilienne for Piano, dedication "à Ralph (Barton)", published by Heugel (Leduc)
- 1928 Nocturno-Fox for two Baritone Voices and Ensemble
- 1929 La Nouvelle Cythère for Two Pianos or Orchestra, published by Musik Fabrik
- 1929 Six Chansons Françaises for Voice and Piano or Orchestra, published by Heugel (Leduc)
- 1929 Pastorale en Ut for Piano, published by Heugel (Leduc)
- 1929 Pastorale Inca for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1929 Vocalise-étude for High Voice and Piano, published by A. L. Hettich (Leduc) in Répertoire Moderne des Vocalises", 1929
- 1930 Fleurs de France for Piano or String Orchestra, published by Lemoine,
Fleurs De France By Germaine Tailleferre. For piano. Published by Lemoine. (510018480)
See more info... - 1931 Zoulaïna Opera Comique (French text by Charles Hirsch), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1932 Ouverture for Orchestra, première : December 25, 1932, Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, under the direction of Pierre Monteux, published by Heugel (Leduc) (rental)
- 1934 Largo for Violin and Piano, (the slow movement of the violin Concerto, later the slow movement of the Second Sonata for Violin and Piano), published by Durand, 1934
- 1934 La Chasse à L'Enfant for Voice and Piano (French text by Jacques Prévert), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1934 Le Chanson de L'Elephant for Voice and Piano, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1934 Deux Poèmes de Lord Byron for High Voice and Piano (English text by Lord Byron), première : December 14, 1934, "Concerts Servais", Anita Réal, soprano, Germaine Tailleferre, Piano, published by Musik Fabrik
Deux Poemes de Lord Byron By Germaine Tailleferre. For High voice, piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt031)
See more info... - 1934 Concerto for Two Pianos, Chorus, Saxophones and Orchestra, Première : May 3, 1934, Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, under the direction of Pierre Monteux, François Lang & Germaine Tailleferre, pianos, Quatuor de saxophones Mule, Mmes Mahe, Faye, Almona, Cemay, and Louis Amoult, Georges Cathelat, Lucien Lovano, Paul Cabanel, published by Heugel (Leduc) (rental)
- 1934 Concerto for Two Pianos, Chorus, Saxophones and Orchestra, version for two pianos Première : December 14, 1934, "Concert Servais", Maurice Servais, Mme Pignari-Salles, Pianos, unpublished, manuscript in the Gold & Fizdale collection of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA.
- 1935 Divertissement dans le style Louis Quinze, incidental music for the Play "Madame Quinze" by Jean Sarment, for orchestra, including baroque instruments, dedication : à André Boll, published by Musik Fabrik (in preparation)
- 1935 Les Souliers, film music
- 1935 Chanson de Firmin for Voice and Piano, from "Les Souliers", French text by Henri Jeanson
- 1936 Cadenzas for Mozart’s Concerto no 22 in Eb for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik
- 1936 Cadenzas for Haydn’s Concerto no 15 for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik
- 1937 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, 1. Allegro non troppo 2. Largo (orch. Igor Markevitch) 3. Allegro, dedication : à Yvonne Astruc, première : November 22, 1936 Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, Pierre Monteux, conductor, Yvonne Astruc, violin
- 1937 Au Pavillion D'Alsace for Piano, dedication : à Madame Marguerite Long, published by Deiss (Salabert)
- 1937 Provincia, Film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1937 Symphonie Grapique, Film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1937 Sur Les Routes d'Acier, Film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1937 Terre d'effort de de liberté Film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1937 Ces Dames aux Chapeaux verts Film score
- 1938 Cantate de Narcisse for Baritone Martin, Soprano, SSAA Chorus, strings and tympani, French text by Paul Valéry, one of the first official French "Commandes d'état", Première : Marseilles, 1942, Radio Marseilles Orchestra and Chorus
- 1938 Le Petit Chose Film score, directed by Marc de Gastyne, with Arletty, Marianne Oswald, Jean Mercanton, Robert Lynan, piano suite published by Choudens
- 1939 Choral for Organ, with Trumpet and Trombone, ad lib., Musik Fabrik
- 1940 Bretagne, Film score, documentary directed by Nean Epstein, 1. Bretagne, 2. Plages, 3. Jeux, 4. Bateaux, 5. Cathédrales, 6. Marché, 7. Povedon, 8.Port, 9. Évocations, 10. Postlude, piano suite published by published by Salabert
- 1941 Les Deux Timides, Film Score, directed by Yves Allégret, with Claude Dauphin, Jacqueline Laurent, Pierre Brasseur, Gisèle Préville
- 1942 Trois Etudes for Piano and Orchestra, published by Musik Fabrik
- 1942 Pastorale for Violin or Flute and Piano, published by Theodore Presser,
Pastorale For Flute and Piano. By Germaine Tailleferre. For Flute, Violin, Piano. Set of parts. 4 pages. Duration 3:10. Published by Theodore Presser Company. (164000360)
See more info... - 1943 Ave Maria for Treble Chorus, written for the Women's chorus of Swarthmore College, Philadelphia, USA, manuscript lost, unpublished, cited in Tailleferre's "Mémoires à L'Emporte-pièce", page 72, RIMF no. 19, February 1986
- 1943 Deux Danses du Marin de Bolivar for Piano (unpublished, but the same music as Au Pavillion D'Alsace from 1937)
- 1946 Les Confidences d'un microphone for Piano, Radio Music, published by Musik Fabrik,
- 1946 Intermezzo for Two Pianos, published by Musik Fabrik,
Intermezzo By Germaine Tailleferre. For 2 pianos (set of 2-parts). Set of Two Parts. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt008)
See more info... - 1946 Intermezzo for Flute and Piano, re-used as the second movement of the Concerto for Flute, Piano and strings, with an added String part., published by Billaudot.
- 1946 Coïncidences, film score, directed by Serge Debecque, with Pierre Renoir, Françoise Delille, Serge Reggiani, 1. Générique, 2. Chanson Triste, 3. Sortilège ironique, 4. Chanson Gai de mélancolie, 5. Pastorale, 6. Sortilège, 7. Pastorale mélancolique, 8. Farandole, 9. Portraits, 10. Rue de Lyon, 11. L'accident, 12. Chansons et Sortilèges dominant, 13. Chansons amoureux
- 1948 Paris-Magie Ballet for Orchestra or Two pianos, 1. Prologue, 2. Ronde des Marchands, 3. Discussion, 4. Un Marchand, 5. Danse de la Tête, 6. Un couple, 7. Un Jeune garçon (Forlâne) , 8. Le couple amoureux, 9. Andantino, 10. Danse de La Rose, 11. Ëve, 12. Danse Méchanique, 13. Épilogue, Orchestral Manuscript at the Paris Opera Library, Two Piano Manuscript in the Gold and Fizdale papers at the Library of Congress, USA, published by Musik Fabrik,
- 1949 Quadrille, Ballet for orchestra, unpublished, but probably a reworking of the corresponding music in Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel
- 1949 Suite pour Orchestre « Paysages de France » for Orchestra, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1949 Paris Sentimentale for voice and Piano (French text by Marthe Lacloche), 1. Roman aux Batignolles, 2. Péniche à Billancourt, 3. Sortie D'École sur la Butte Montmartre, 4. Neige sur le Parc Monceau, 5. Kiosque à L'Étoile, 6. Solitaire des Acacias, unpublished, manuscript missing except for 4. Neige sur le Parc Monceau, in the Pierre Bernac Papers at the New York Public Library
- 1950 Les Marchés du Sud, film music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1951 2ème Sonate for Violin and Piano, published by Durand,
Sonata No. 2 Violin and Piano. By Germaine Tailleferre. This edition: DF1351100. Editions Durand. 32 pages. Published by Editions Durand. (50560981)
See more info... - 1951 Parfums, musical comedy, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1951 Il Etait un Petit Navire, Opéra comique (French libretto by Henri Jeanson)
- 1951 Suite "Il Etait un Petit Navire" for two pianos, 1. Ouverture, 2. Valse de Valentine, 3. Et Patati et Patata, 4. Nocturne, 5. Cartes Postales, manuscript in the Gold and Fizdale papers at the Library of Congress,, published by Musik Fabrik
- 1951-54 La Bohème Eternale theatre (radio?) music, 1. Générqieu, 2. Tabarin, 3. Choral Antique, 4. Nocturne Romain, 5. Poésie Chinoise, 6. Final, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1951(?) Chant Chinois for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1951 Concerto no. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, 1. Allegro, 2. Larghezza, 3. Finale, dedication : "à Françoise Tailleferre", unpublished, manuscript missing, one page presented in Tailleferre's "Mémoires à L'Emporte-pièce", page 60, RIMF no. 19, February 1986
- 1952 Sarabande de La Guirlande de Campra for Orchestra, collaborative work with Henri Sauget, Daniel-Lesur, Arthur Honneger, Francis Poulenc and Georges Auric, première: July 30, 1952, Aix-en-Provence Festival, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts, Hans Rosbaud, conductor, published by Salabert
- 1952 Seule dans la Forêt for Piano
- 1952 Dans La Clairière for Piano,
- 1952 Concertino for Flute, Piano and String Orchestra, published by Billaudot.
- 1952 Sicilienne for Flute and Two Pianos
- 1952 Le Roi de la Creation, film music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1952 Valse pour le Funambule for Piano
- 1952 Caroline au pays natal, film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1952 Caroline au Palais, film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1952 Conférence des Animaux, Radio Music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1953 Caroline fait du cinéma, film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1953 Cher Vieux Paris, film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1953 Caroline du Sud, Film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1953 Gavarni et son temps, Television score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1953 Parisiana, Ballet for Orchestra
- 1953 Sonata for Harp
- 1953? Entre Deux Guerres, film score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1954 L'Aigle des Rues, suite for Piano
- 1954 Fugue for Orchestra
- 1954 Charlie Valse for Piano, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1954 Deux Pieces for Piano
- 1955 La Rue Chagrin for Voice and Piano
- 1955 Du Style Galant au Style Mechant 4 Opéras de poche published by Billaudot.
- Le Bel Ambitieux, Chamber opera
- La Fille d'Opéra, Chamber Opera
- Monsieur Petitpois Achete un Château, Chamber Opera
- La Pauvre Eugénie , Chamber Opera
- 1955 Une Rouille à l'Arsenic, for Voice and Piano (French texts by Denise Centore), unpublished, manuscript missing (perhaps in the archives at Radio France, where two songs from the score are catalogued: this was intended to be the fifth opera in the cycle "Du Style Galant au Style Mechant", representing the "Style Mechant")
- 1955 Ici la voix, radio music for Orchestra, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1955 C'est facile à dire for voice and Piano (French Text), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1955 Dejeuner sur L'Herbe for voice and Piano (French Text by Claude Marcy), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1955 L'Enfant for voice and Piano (French Text by Claude Marcy), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1955 Il avait une Barbe Noire for voice and Piano (French Text by Claude Marcy), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1956 Concerto des Vaines Paroles for Baritone, Piano and Orchestra (French text by Jean Tardieu), unpublished, this work is based on the 1934 Concerto for Two Pianos, Eight Solo Voices and Orchestra,
- 1956 L'Homme Notre Ami, Film Music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1956 Le Travail fait le Patron, Film, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1957 Les Plus Beau Jours, Film Music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1957 Histoires secrète, radio score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1957 Petite Suite for Orchestra
- 1957 La Petite Sirène , Opera (French text by Philippe Soupault)
- 1957 Sonate for Solo Clarinet, published by Broude Brothers Sonata By Germaine Tailleferre. For solo clarinet. Published by Broude Brothers. (RM2088)
See more info... - 1957 Adalbert, radio Score
- 1957 Toccata for Two Pianos, dedication : à Arthur Gold et Robert Fizdale, published by Musik Fabrik,
Toccata By Germaine Tailleferre. For 2 pianos (set of 2-parts). Set of Two Parts. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt007)
See more info... - 1957 Partita for Piano
- 1957 Tante Chinoise et les Autres, film score for solo flute, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1959 Mémoires d'une Bergère, Radio Score
- 1959 Le Maître, chamber opera (French text by Eugène Ionesco)
- 1959 Pancarte pour une porte d'entrée, Voice and Piano (French texts by Robert Pinget), published by Musik Fabrik,
- 1960 Temps de Pose, radio score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1960 Les Requins sur nos Cotes, film music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1960 La Rentrée des Foins, television score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1961 Les Grandes personnes (English title - Time out for Love/The Adults), film music
- 1962 Au Paradis avec les Anes, radio score (French text by Francis Jammes), unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1962 Partita, for Oboe, clarinet, Bassoon and Strings
- 1963 L'Adieu du Cavalier, in memoriam Francis Poulenc for voice and Piano (French text by Guillaume Apollinaire)
- 1964 Sans Merveille, television score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1964? Concerto for Two guitars and Orchestra, première : June 30, 2004, by Chris Bilobram
- Guitar, Christina Altmark - Guitar with the Orchestra of the Hochshule
für Musik (Weimar) directed by Christian Schumann in the Fürstensaal,
Weimar Germany</b>, published by Musik Fabrik, - 1964 Hommage à Rameau for Two pianos and four percussion
- 1964 Evariste Gallois ou l'Eloge des Mathématiques, television score, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1964 Sonata alla Scarlatti for Harp, published by Musik Fabrik,
- 1966 Anatole, television score
- 1969 Entonnement for ob-hrp pf str
- 1969 Jacasseries for fl, ob, cl cel, hp, str
- 1969 Amertume for fl, ob,cl, hn, hp, str
- 1969 Angoise for chamber orchestra
- 1970 Impressionnisme for Flute, Two Pianos and Double bass, film score, published by Musik Fabrik,
- 1972 Forlane for flute and piano
- 1972 Barbizon for piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1972 Sonate Champêtre for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano, published by Musik Fabrik"
Sonate Champetre By Germaine Tailleferre. For Oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon, piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt023)
See more info... - 1973 Rondo for Oboe and Piano, published by Lemoine,
- 1973 Arabesque for Clarinet/Piano, published by Lemoine,
Arabesque By Germaine Tailleferre. For Clarinet, Piano. Published by Lemoine. (524016190)
See more info... - 1973 Choral for Trumpet and Piano, published by Lemoine,
- 1973 Sonatine for Violin and Piano, pubished by Billaudot
Sonatine By Germaine Tailleferre. For violin, piano. Published by Billaudot. (514002810)
See more info...
Sonatine By Germaine Tailleferre. For violin, piano. Published by Billaudot. (514002810)
See more info... - 1973 Gaillarde for Trumpet and Piano, published by Lemoine,
- 1974 Sonate for Two Pianos, published by Musik Fabrik"
- 1974-75 Sonate for Piano 4 hands, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1974-75 Symphonietta for Trumpet, Tympani and Strings
- 1975-1981 Enfantines for Piano, published by Lemoine,
- 1975 Singeries for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1975 Escarpolète for Piano, published by Musik Fabrik in 14 Pièces pour Piano,
14 Pieces By Germaine Tailleferre. For Piano. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt003)
See more info... - 1975 Menuet for Oboe (Clarinet or Saxophone) and Piano, published by Musik Fabrik"
- 1975 Allegretto for Three Clarinets (three trumpets or Three Saxophones) and Piano, published by Musik Fabrik"
- 1975 Piement des Pyrenées Françaises Film music, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1975-78 Trois Sonatines for Piano, published by Lemoine,
- 1976 Marche for Concert Band (orch. Dondeyne)
- 1976 Choral et Fugue for Concert Band (orch. Wehage)
- 1976-77 Sérénade en La mineur for four winds and Piano or Harpsichord
- 1977 Nocturne for Organ
- 1977 Aube for Soprano solo/SATB chorus, unpublished
- 1977 Trois Chansons de Jean Tardieu for voice and piano (French text by Jean Tardieu)
- 1977 Un Bateau en Chocolat for voice and Piano (French text by Jean Tardieu) voix/pno, unpublished, manuscript missing
- 1977 Suite Divertimento for Piano or concert Band
- 1978 Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano
- 1979 Choral et Variations for Two Pianos or Orchestra
- 1979 Choral et Deux Variations for Woodwind or Brass Quintet
- 1979 Menuet en Fa for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano
- 1979 Sarabande for Two Instruments or Piano
- 1980 Suite Burlesque for Piano 4 hands
- 1981 Concerto de la Fidelité for high voice and Orchestra
- 1982 20 lécons de Solfege, voice and Piano
- ???? Guitare for Solo Guitar, première : December 7, 2004 by Tony Morris, Guitar at the White House, Washington DC (USA), published by Musik Fabrik
Guitare By Germaine Tailleferre. For solo Guitar. Published by Musik Fabrik (French import). (mfgt036)
See more info...
Recommended recordings of works by Germaine Tailleferre :
: contains Internezzo for Two Pianos, Toccata for Two Pianos, Fandango for Two pianos, Jeux de Plein Aire for Two Pianos, La Nouvelle Cythère version for two pianos, Sonate pour two pianos, Suite Burlesque pour piano 4-hands and Deux Valses for Two Pianos.
contains the Two violin and Piano sonatas, the Sonatine for Violin and Piano and the Berceuse for Violin and Piano
contains the Six Chansons Françaises with the legendary Mezzo accompanied by the composer at the piano
contains the
contains the Concerto for Two Guitars and orchestra
contains the String Quartet
contains Hommage à Rameau for Two pianos and percussion ensemble, the Suite Burlesque for Piano 4-hands and Premières Prouesses for Piano 4-hands
contains the Concertino for Harp and Orchestra
contains Petite Suite for Orchestra
, contains the Pastorale from the Album des Six for Piano and Forlane for Flute and Piano
containes Quadrille and Valse des Dépeches from Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel
contains the 1978 version of the Piano Trio
contains Arabesque for Clarinet and Piano and Sonate for Solo Clarinet
contains the Sonate for Harp
contains a very effective arrangement for Flute and Piano of the Second Sonata for Violin and Piano
Selected bibliography
- Janelle Gelfand "Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) Piano and Chamber works", Doctoral Dissertation, 1999 University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
- Laura Mitgang "Germaine Tailleferre : Before, During and After Les Six" in The Musical Woman, Vol. 11 Judith Lang Zaimont, editor (Greenwood Press 1987)
- Caroline Potter/Robert Orledge : Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) : A Centenary Appraisal" Muziek & Wetenshap 2 (Summer 1992) pp. 109-130
- Robert Shapiro "Germaine Tailleferre : a bio-Bibliography" (Greenwood Press 1994) (some errors, but a very good research tool)
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