20th century and todayGermaine Tailleferre
Germaine Tailleferre was born near Paris.
Germaine Tailleferre’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1892👶 Birth
Born on 19 April in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Marcelle Taillefesse)
- 1904📚 Trainingage 12
Enters the Conservatoire despite her father’s opposition
- 1912❤️ Private lifeage 20
Changes her name to ‘Tailleferre’ to stand up to her father
- 1917🎼 Workage 25
Jeux de plein air: Satie calls her his ‘musical daughter’
- 1920🎩 Careerage 28
The only woman in ‘Les Six’
- 1923🎼 Workage 31
Le Marchand d’oiseaux (ballet); Piano Concerto
- 1925🧳 Journeyage 33
Stay in the United States; meets Charlie Chaplin
- 1927🎼 Workage 35
Harp Concertino, premiered in Boston
- 1927🌍 Meanwhile
First talking picture (The Jazz Singer)
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1976🎩 Careerage 84
Teaches music to children at the École alsacienne
- 1982🌍 Meanwhile
The compact disc (CD) is launched
- 1983🕯️ Deathage 91
Dies in Paris on 7 November, aged 91
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Germaine Tailleferre’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Germaine Tailleferre was born near Paris. Her dad didn’t want her to become a musician. But her mum helped her in secret, and Germaine entered the Conservatoire! Later she even changed her name so as not to carry her father’s.
With friends she formed “Les Six”, six young composers who wanted simple, joyful music. She was the only girl in the group! The composer Erik Satie called her his “musical daughter”.
She played piano and harp and travelled to America, where she met Charlie Chaplin. All her life she composed: concertos, ballets, film music.
At over eighty she was still teaching music to children at a school in Paris!
Germaine Tailleferre’s instruments
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