Paris Conservatoire

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During the years that you dedicate to the flute, you will hear about the Paris Conservatoire. Its flute professors were amazing performers, influential teachers and composers of some of the long lived standards of the flute repertoire.  The Paris Conservatoire is now over 200 years old.  It was founded in 1795, during the French Revolution, and soon became one of the most important music schools in the world. The French Flute School style of performance evolved here, as well as the acceptance of the modern, silver Böhm flute.  

Paris Conservatory
Paris Conservatory

The Paris Conservatory in the Nineteenth Century

From flutehistory.com

The Paris Conservatoire dominated musical education in France, and in much of the developed world, from about 1860-1950. Rather than receiving individual tuition, instrumentalists were taught in a class, to which entrance was by competition. Students played in public examinations called Concours (competitions), which included a set piece and accompanied sight-reading, and were awarded grades designated First Prize (Premier prix), Second Prize, and First or Second Certificate of Merit (Accessit). A student graduated on attaining a First Prize, or earlier if satisfied with a lower grade.

Conservatoire de Paris

“Since its establishment by legislative decree of August 3, 1795, the Paris Conservatoire has functioned as the gateway to the upper echelons of classical music in France. A premier prix from the Conservatoire launched careers in the best theaters and concert societies; the foremost instrumentalists rose to occupy, simultaneously, principal chairs at the Opéra and Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (the Paris Conservatory Orchestra) and a professorship at the school. Matriculation at the Conservatoire was so highly valued that families of gifted children would move to Paris and sometimes, like César Franck’s family, change citizenship, since admission required French nationality. In the early years even the best foreign students were routinely turned away, including Franz Liszt in 1823; though by the 1880s, a quota of 15% foreign students was deemed acceptable.”

Follow the link above for interesting historical information on the origin of the conservatory, the buildings and more. Also on this site – The French Flute School

Famous Flute Professors of the Paris Conservatoire

List of Former Teachers at the Conservatoire de Paris

Michel Debost (Professor of Flute, 1981–1990)

Francois Devienne (First Professor of Flute, 1795)

After the Revolutionary period, when the Free School became the National Institute of Music, later chartered as the Paris Conservatory in 1795, Devienne was appointed an administrator and flute professor. He wrote Méthode de Flíte Théorique et Pratique (1793), which was reprinted several times and did much to improve the level of French wind music in the late 18th century.

Marcel Moyse (Professor of Flute, 1932–1940)

A French flutist. Moyse studied at the Paris Conservatory and was a student of Philippe Gaubert, Adolphe Hennebains, and Paul Taffanel; all of whom were flute virtuosos in their time. Moyse won the First Prize in 1906 playing the Gaubert Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando.

Philippe Gaubert (Professor of Flute, 1920–1931)

Gaubert was a French musician who was a distinguished performer on the flute, a respected conductor, and a composer, primarily for the flute. Gaubert won the First Prize in 1894 playing the Langer Concerto in G Major. His professor was Paul Taffanel.

Paul Taffanel (Professor of Flute, 1894–1908)

A French flutist, conductor and instructor, regarded as the founder of the French Flute School that dominated much of flute composition and performance during the mid-20th century. Paul Taffenal won the First Prize in 1860 playing the Tolou 5th Concerto. His professor was Louis Dorus.

Morceau de Concours

Before they can graduate, conservatoire students must perform a piece called the Morceau de Concours or examination piece.  The music is often written specifically as the final exam piece.  Many of these works have become well-known flute solos including:

  • Faure’s morceau de concours (1898)
  • Chaminade’s Concertino (1902)
  • Gaubert’s Nocturne and Allegro Scherzando (1907)
  • Perilhou’s Ballade in G Minor (1910)
  • Enesco’s Cantabile and Presto (1921)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Conservatory_Flute_Concours

This site has the list of the Concours pieces required from 1824–2001.

The Paris Conservatory Flute Concours was the most highly regarded flute contest in Paris in the (musical) Romantic Period. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Paris was home to the world’s cultural elite and the Paris Conservatoire was considered to be the finest institute in France for music studies. 

Starting in 1860 under the professorship of Toulu, at the end of each year students took part in a flute performance competition known as the Concours Pieces (Concours meaning ‘contest’). A piece of flute music was commissioned by Paul Taffanel to be performed at the Concours Pieces each year. Students would play this piece of repertoire before a panel of experts. This is why a dedication to Paul Taffanel appears on many of the following pieces of sheet music.

List of former students of the Conservatoire de Paris