Paris Conservatory Flute Concours

The Paris Conservatory (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris), established by law in 1795, is known for its reputation to be the finest music institute in France. Its resilience during the French Revolution, as well as wars during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, attest to the resolve of its directors and faculty. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Conservatoire became a stable institution, offering a curriculum for solfege, voice, violin and wind instruments common to the time, including the flute.

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The tradition of the final or exit examination, the concours, has required students, at the end of their course of study, to perform in public a prepared set of musical pieces for a jury consisting of the professors and internationally renowned professionals on the particular instrument, the composer of the solo de concours, and the Director. Behind closed doors, the candidates would be given additional tasks to perform such as sight-reading. In the 20th century, the candidates were judged against a standard, and those who demonstrated outstanding mastery and artistry receive the Premier Prix, the equivalent of a diploma with high honor. Those who earned Deuxieme Prix, also received a diploma but could elect to remain to try again a year later for the top prize. Two lesser levels of distinction existed, the Premier Accessit and Deuxieme Accessit, equivalent to Honorable Mentions but without a diploma. Historically, students who failed to pass the exam on the first attempt would return for another one to two years additional study and try a second time. A student failing to earn either level diploma after two additional attempts would be terminated from the program. NB:  Changes have occurred in the 21st century.  Please consult https://www.conservatoiredeparis.fr/index.php/fr/cursus/decouverte-des-cursus/diplomes

Throughout the 19th century, the solos de concours for flute were composed by the Conservatoire’s flute professors, primarily Jean-Louis Tulou (1786-1865) and Joseph-Henri Altès (1826-1899). These solos reflected the current tastes for sentimental salon music as well as familiar themes of French opera composers.  As improvements were made to the flute’s system of key work, the level of technical virtuosity rose substantially.  The solos of this era were popular but perhaps less valuable for their compositional merit.

In 1893 Paul Taffanel (1844-1908) succeeded Altès as flute professor. He instituted a commissioning program to invite French composers to offer a new composition for the wind instruments, with the aim to boost their respective repertoires. With Taffanel’s guidance the artistic standards of the turn-of-the century solos rose significantly, resulting in many outstanding works that became a mainstay for both the Conservatoire flute program and as standard performance repertoire.  

Flute professors during the 20th century oversaw the growth, change, and ultimate demise of the commissioning program.  The tenures of Aldolphe Hennebains (1862-1914) and Léoplold Lafleurance (1865-1951) were short, five years and four years respectively.  Joseph Rampal (father of Jean-Pierre) was taught by both of these men, but neither gained the fame of Taffanel or the flute professors who followed:  Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941); Marcel Moyse (1889-1984); Gaston Crunelle (1898-1990); Jean-Pierre Rampal (1922-2000); Alain Marion (1938-1998); Michel Debost (b. 1934); Pierre-Yves Artaud (b. 1946). (Information forthcoming concerning 21st-century faculty.)

From 1900 to 1950, there were 40 newly composed solos (some were repeated, and Mozart Concerti were at times used as the imposed concours solo).  After 1930, composers demonstrated more individualistic styles and increasing difficulty. World War II fomented a breakdown of French conservative tendencies. Resisted by the Conservatoire, Internationalism nevertheless surfaced, partly due to the progressive harmony classes of Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992).  The divergence continued to include four compositional groups: Conservative, Progressive, Atonal/serial, and Avant-Garde. Consulting the list below, marked by an asterisk, one can find the more familiar and suitable-for-performance solos of the 20th century (including Fauré’s Fantaisie of 1898).

Consulting the list below, marked by an asterisk, one can find the more familiar and suitable-for-performance solos of the 20th century (including Fauré’s Fantaisie of 1898).  From 1900 to 1950, there were 40 newly composed solos (some were repeated, and Mozart Concerti were at times used as the imposed concours solo).  After 1930, composers demonstrated more individualistic styles and increasing difficulty. World War II fomented a breakdown of French conservative tendencies. Resisted by the Conservatoire, Internationalism nevertheless surfaced, partly due to the progressive harmony classes of Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992).  The divergence continued to include four compositional groups: Conservative, Progressive, Atonal/serial, and Avant-Garde throughout the rest of the century. [1] 


List of the Solos de Concours for flute, 1824-2003[2]

  • 1824 B. Berbiguier - 5th Concertino
  • 1832 Tulou - Solo
  • 1835 Tulou - Solo
  • 1837 Tulou - Solo
  • 1838 Tulou - Grand Solo
  • 1839 Tulou - Grand Concerto
  • 1840 Tulou - 6th Grand Solo
  • 1841 Tulou - Concerto
  • 1842 Tulou - Grand Solo
  • 1843 Tulou - Solo
  • 1844 Tulou - 10th Solo
  • 1845 Tulou - 11th Solo
  • 1846 Tulou - 12th Solo
  • 1847 Tulou - 13th Solo
  • 1848 Tulou - Solo
  • 1849 Tulou - 14th Solo
  • 1850 Tulou - 13th Solo
  • 1851 Tulou - Fantaisie op. 99
  • 1852 Tulou - 11th Solo
  • 1853 Tulou - Fantaisie on Marco Spada
  • 1854 Tulou - 13th Solo
  • 1855 Tulou - 12th Solo
  • 1856 Tulou - Fantaisie
  • 1857 Tulou - 13th Solo
  • 1858 Tulou - Plaisir d'Amour op. 107
  • 1859 Tulou - 15th Solo
  • 1860 Tulou - 5th Concerto
  • 1861 H. Altès - Solo
  • 1862 Lindpaintner - Grand Concerto Pathétique (excerpt)
  • 1863 Tulou - 3rd Grand Solo
  • 1864 Dorus - Concertino de C.G. Reisigger (excerpt)
  • 1865 Th. Boehm - Fantaisie sur des airs écossais
  • 1866 Tulou - 4th Concertino
  • 1867 Briccialdi - Concertino
  • 1868 Tulou - 13th Concerto
  • 1869 Tulou - 12th Solo
  • 1870 H. Altès - 2nd Solo
  • 1871 NO CONCOURS
  • 1872 Tulou - 1st Solo
  • 1873 H. Altès - 6th Solo
  • 1874 H. Altès - 3rd Solo in A
  • 1875 H. Altès - 4th Solo in A
  • 1876 Tulou - 2nd Solo in G
  • 1877 Tulou - 3rd Solo in D
  • 1878 H. Altès - 1st Solo
  • 1879 Tulou - 5th Solo
  • 1880 H. Altès - 5th Solo
  • 1881 Tulou - 8th Solo
  • 1882 H. Altès - 7th Solo
  • 1883 Tulou - 4th Solo
  • 1884 H. Altès - 8th Solo
  • 1885 Tulou - 5th Solo
  • 1886 H. Altès - 9th Solo
  • 1887 J. Demersseman - 1st Solo
  • 1888 H. Altès - 10th Solo
  • 1889 Tulou - 11th Solo
  • 1890 Tulou - 3rd Solo
  • 1891 J. Demersseman - 2nd Solo
  • 1893 H. Altès - 8th Solo in A minor
  • 1894 Langer - Concerto in G minor
  • 1895 J. Andersen - Morceau de Concert
  • 1896 J. Demersseman - 6th Solo in F
  • 1897 J. Andersen - Second Solo de concert, op. 61
  • 1898 G. Fauré - Fantaisie
  • 1899 A. Duvernoy - Concertino
  • 1900 J. Demersseman - 6th solo
  • 1901 L. Ganne - Andante et Scherzo
  • 1902 C. Chaminade - Concertino
  • 1903 A. Perilhou - Ballade in G minor
  • 1904 G. Enesco - Cantabile et Presto
  • 1905 L. Ganne - Andante et Scherzo
  • 1906 Ph. Gaubert - Nocturne et Allegro scherzando
  • 1907 P. Taffanel - Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino
  • 1908 H. Busser - Prelude et Scherzo
  • 1909 J. Mouquet - Eglogue, op. 29
  • 1910 A. Perilhou - Ballade (1903)
  • 1911 A. Georges - A la Kasbah!
  • 1912 L. Moreau - Dans la Forêt enchantée
  • 1913 G. Hue - Fantaisie
  • 1914 A. Casella - Sicilienne et Burlesque
  • 1915 H. Busser - Sicilienne
  • 1916 G. Fauré - Fantaisie (1898)
  • 1917 A. Bachelet - Promenade et Danses nocturnes
  • 1918 Mozart - Concerto in D, K. 314, 1st mvt with Taffanel cadenza
  • 1919 H. Busser - Thème varié
  • 1920 Ph. Gaubert - Fantaisie
  • 1921 G. Enesco - Cantabile et Presto (1904)
  • 1922 L. Aubert Introduction et Allegro
  • 1923 Ph. Gaubert - Nocturne et Allegro scherzando
  • 1924 M. Delmas - Incantation et Danse
  • 1925 G. Fauré - Fantaisie (1898)
  • 1926 M. d'Ollone - Andante et Allegro en styl ancien
  • 1927 G. Grovlez - Romance et Scherzo
  • 1928 Ph. Gaubert - Ballade
  • 1929 Mozart - Concerto in D, K. 314, 1st mvt with Taffanel cadenza
  • 1930 Langer - Concerto in G Minor
  • 1931 J. Mazellier - Divertissement pastoral
  • 1932 Ph. Gaubert - Fantaisie (1920)
  • 1933 H. Busser - Andalucia
  • 1934 J. Ibert - Concerto (finale)
  • 1935 Mozart - Concerto in G, K. 313 with Taffanel cadenza
  • 1936 M. Le Boucher - Ode à Marsyas
  • 1937 H. Busser - Prélude et Scherzo, op. 35 (1908)
  • 1938 Mozart - Concerto in D, K. 314 with Taffanel cadenza
  • 1939 L. Ganne - Andante et Scherzo (1901)
  • 1940 G. Enesco - Cantabile et Presto (1904)
  • 1941 Ph. Gaubert - Fantaisie (1920)
  • 1942 E. Bozza - Agrestide
  • 1943 H. Dutilleux - Sonatine
  • 1944 A. Jolivet - Chant de Linos
  • 1945 H. Tomasi - Concertino in E Major
  • 1946 P. Sancan - Sonatine
  • 1947 H. Martelli - Concertstück
  • 1948 F.J. Brun - Andante et Scherzo
  • 1949 E. Passani - Concerto in A Major
  • 1950 A. Pépin - Impromptu
  • 1951 A. Szalowski - Concertino
  • 1952 O. Messiaen - Le Merle Noir
  • 1953 J. Dupont - Aulos, op. 37
  • 1954 J. Rueff - Diptyque
  • 1955 R. Boutry - Concertino
  • 1956 R. Gallois-Montbrun - Divertissement
  • 1957 F.J. Brun - Pastorale d'Arcadie
  • 1958 N. Gallon - Improvisation and Ronde (with cadenza)
  • 1959 M. Poot - Légende
  • 1960 R. Casadesus - Fantaisie, A. Roussel - Pan (from "Joueurs de Flûte")
  • 1961 L. Cortese - Introduction et Allegro
  • 1962 Ch. Chaynes - Variations on a Tanka
  • 1963 P. Petit - Petite Suite
  • 1964 T. Aubin - Concertino dell'Amicizia
  • 1965 G. Hugon - Sonata (Larghetto and Final)
  • 1966 Jean Rivier - Ballade*
  • 1967 J. Hubeau - Idylle
  • 1968 G. Keller - Chant de Parthenope
  • 1969 J. Bondon - Mouvement Chorégraphique
  • 1970 M. Merlet - Chaconne
  • 1971 M. Constant - Pour flûte et un instrument
  • 1972 J. Charpentier - Esquisse
  • 1973 A. Bernaud - Cantate and Danse
  • 1974 Th. Brenet - Pantomime
  • 1975 M. Rateau - Dialogue avec l'oiseau La
  • 1976 S. Nigg - Pièce pour flûte
  • 1977 B. Jolas - Episode second: Ohne Worte
  • 1978 M. Constant - Neuf pieces pour flute et piano
  • 1979 P. Petit - Quinze
  • 1980 J. Casterède - Ciels
  • 1981 G. Delerue - Dyptique
  • 1982 J-M. Defaye - Contrastes
  • 1983 M. Bleuse - Plains-chants #1,3,5.
  • 1984 P. Ancelin - Daphné
  • 1985 P. Boulez - Sonatine (1946)
  • 1986 R. François - Récit
  • 1987 P. Boulez - Transitoire VII, (from . . .explosante - fixe)
  • 1988 I. Nodaira - La nuit sera blanche et noire
  • 1989 O. Messiaen - Le merle noir (1952)
  • 1990 T. Takemitsu - Voice, for flute solo
  • 1991 E. Denisov - Sonata for flute*
  • 1992 S. Bortoli - Siligrane
  • 1993 C. Halffter - Debla
  • 1994 G. Amy - Trois études pour flute
  • 1995 F. Schubert - Variations on Trockne Blumen
  • 1996 G. Reibel - Eoliennes for C flute and piano
  • 1997 M. Reverdy - Am stram gram
  • 1998 L. Berio - Sequenza
  • 1999 G. Amy - Trois études pour flute
  • 2000 Isang-Yun - Garak (ed. Bote et boc)
  • 2001 No award in flute
  • 2002 F. Tanda - "F" (solo flute) [2]

NB: The list of the solos de concours for flute for the years 1955-1990 was compiled for the first time, with the assistance of former Paris Conservatoire flute professor, Michel Debost, for inclusion in the doctoral treatise, "The Paris Conservatoire Concours Tradition and the Solos de Concours for Flute 1955-1990" by Melissa G. Colgin.

List of solos de concours for flute, 2003-2019 (Provided by Mme. Sophie Levy, Archivist at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, via email 05 Feb.2021.)

  • 2003 F. Donatoni - Midi, for solo flute (ed. Ricordi)
  • 2004 B. Montovani - Früh (solo flute) (ed. Lemoine)
  • 2005 G. Benjamin - Flight, for flute solo (ed. Faber Music)
  • 2006 Y. Taira - Cadenza 1 (from Erosion 1, for flute and orchestra)
  • 2007 Y. Hachimura - Maneira, for flute solo
  • 2008 B. Mantovani - Früh (solo flute)
  • 2009 H. Holliger - (E)cri(t), for flute solo
  • 2010 F. Tanada - "F" (solo flute)
  • 2011 Y. Taira - Cadenza 1 (from Erosion I, for flute and orchestra)
  • 2012 R. Francois - Piece for flute and piano, movements 3, 4, & 5
  • 2013 B. Mantovani - Früh
  • 2014 A. Hovhannisyan - Les duex visions de memoire I
  • 2015 H. Holliger - (t)aire(e), for flute solo
  • 2016 C. Hafflter - Debla [Solo VI] for flute solo
  • 2017 P. Hurel - Loops, for flute solo
  • 2018 A. Jolivet - Incantation no. 5 (E) (from Cinq incantations) for flute solo
  • 2019 H. Holliger- (E)cri(t), for flute solo

References
  1. Colgin, Melissa. "The Paris Conservatoire Concours Tradition and the Solos de Concours for Flute 1955-1990." D.M.A. Treatise, University of Texas at Austin, 1992.
  2. "Larry Krantz Flute Pages - Paris Conservatory Test Pieces".
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