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Kate Molleson introduces the spry and subtly surprising music of Germaine Tailleferre, with guests Barbara Kelly and Caroline Potter.

Germaine Tailleferre first made a splash in the heady atmosphere of 1920s Paris. She was part of a lively, bohemian scene in which poetry and exhibitions went hand in hand with performances of new music. Her career was given a bump start by the eccentric older composer, Eric Satie. He was an influential voice in avant-garde circles, and his support opened a door to wider recognition. Tailleferre became part of a like-minded set of young composers, along with Francis Poulenc, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Louis Durey and Georges Auric. Their energy and drive created exciting new outlets for performances of their music. It was a journalist, Henri Collet, who coined their eventual collective name "Les Six". While their artistic paths quickly diversified, the group remained friends for the rest of their lives.

Tailleferre was a prolific composer, writing in all the genres from small scale chamber works to large scale works including cantatas, orchestral scores, ballets and operas. After enjoying considerable success, by the 1930s her prominence began to fade. There's some evidence to suggest that her two unhappy marriages, and the deprivations of living in occupied France, followed by a temporary exile in the States during the Second World War, all had an adverse impact on her career. Despite these setbacks, she continued to compose and would teach music almost to the very end of her life. She died in 1983 at the age of 91.

Held back perhaps by her own retiring personality and historical views of a female composer, Tailleferre's music has been overshadowed by some of the other members of "Les Six". This week Kate Molleson brings Germaine Tailleferre's music firmly in to the limelight. She's joined in studio by two other Tailleferre enthusiasts, Barbara Kelly from the University of Leeds, and Caroline Potter, who's currently writing a book about Tailleferre.

Today there's a rare performance of Tailleferre's sparkling ballet score Le Marchand d'Oiseaux and the uplifting story of her fight for the right to study music. Tailleferre's determination would win through in the end, but her victory was to come at some personal cost.

Valse lente (Deux valses)
Alexandre Tharaud, piano

Valse brillante (Deux valses)
Clinton-Narboni Piano Duo

Image for 8 instruments
Ulrike Sieber, flute
Deborah Marshall, clarinet
Heiko Stralendorff, celesta
Angela Gassenhuber, piano
Fanny Mendelssohn Quartet
Wolfram Buchenberg, conductor

Jeux de plein air
I : Le Tirelitentaine
II : Cache-cache mitoula
Pascal Rogé, piano
Ami Rogé, piano

Quartet for Strings
I: Modéré
II: Intermede
III: Vif
Stenhammar Quartet

Romance in A major
Nicolas Horvath, piano

Le Marchand d’oiseaux
Â鶹Éç Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov, conductor

Producer: Johannah Smith