Taffanel: Genius of the Flute
"Taffanelwill appeal to the aficionado as well as the proletariat, a highly readable documentation that balances the composer's achievements against the cultural institutions of the Belle Epoque."--Mark Tanner,Musical Opinion"Edward Blakeman expertly rises to this challenge as he lucidly tells the story of this fascinating, important, and kindly man who influenced flute playing indelibly over the later decades of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth. This makes for a good read, but the book will also prove invaluable as a reference tool, not least because of the copious appendices.... Not only are these fascinating in themselves, but they are not found elsewhere in print--important, if minor, components in the rich mosaic of Parisian musical life across thefind de siècle.--Richard Langham Smith,Music and Letters"Finally a new book that adds something to our knowledge of French music from the first half of the 20th Century."--Mia Dreese,FLUIT"As one would expect, the major part of the book focuses on Taffanel as a performer, conductor and teacher. It is all so fascinating that it is impossible to do justice to it by quoting out of context, but I suggest that you buy a copy. Not only will it entertain and inform, but all the notes and lists in the appendices will prove invaluable in writing programme notes, etc."--Brenda Dykes,Pan"Taffanel was the foremost flutist of his time and ushered flute-playing into the modern age. Edward Blakeman's superbly-researched and elegantly-written book considers Taffanel in the context of French music at the time of Saint-Saëns, Fauré, and Massenet and explores his  influence as conductor, composer, and teacher. Strongly recommended not only to flutists but to devotees of French culture as well."--John Solum, concert flutist, author ofThe Early Flute"Edward Blakeman's long-awaited biography of Paul Taffanel will be much appreciated by scholars and performers. It is an eloquent account of his multifaceted career as flutist, teacher, and conductor and of the cultural institutions of Belle Epoque Paris."--Nancy Toff, author ofMonarch of theFlute: The Life of Georges BarrèreandThe Flute Book"Blakeman's scholarly technique is impeccable, mingling a superb command of the archives with quite a number of personal connections and first-person interviews, and a rock-solid knowledge of flute players and lore. His no-nonsense approach is refreshing: It's a fine piece of work."--D. Kern Holoman, Barbara K. Jackson Professor of Music, University of California, Davis and author ofThe Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, 1828-1967"Splendid... [A] fine biography."-Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society