Paul Taffanel (1844 - 1908) France Claude-Paul Taffanel (16 September 1844 - 22 November 1908) was a French flautist, 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.
Taffanel was also a fluent composer for the flute and wind quintet, writing several pieces considered part of standard flute repertoire today. These include:
Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino
Grande Fantasie (Mignon)
Fantasie, Themes/ Der Freischutz
Quintette in G minor (for woodwind quintet) (1876)[3]
He also began writing a method book for flute, 17 Grands Exercices Journaliers De Mecanisme, which was finished after his death by two of his students, Louis Fleury and Philippe Gaubert. Today, this is considered a standard method book for flute players to study from. Gaubert became the second (after Taffanel) most recognized French flutist and composer. (Hide extended text)...(Read all) Source : Wikipedia