Germaine Tailleferre

Bio

Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983) was a French composer and the only female member of the influential group Les Six. Born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, she studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where she won first prizes in harmony, counterpoint, and accompaniment. Her early works, such as the ballet Le Marchand d'oiseaux (1923), reflect the neoclassical and impressionist influences of her contemporaries. Throughout her long career, Tailleferre composed across many genres, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, piano works, operas, and film scores. Despite periods of relative obscurity, her music is noted for its clarity, wit, and melodic charm. She remained active into her later years, producing a substantial body of work that has gained renewed attention in recent decades.