tailleferre
Very LowFormal, Cultural, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A French surname, most famously associated with 20th-century French composer Germaine Tailleferre.
A proper noun referring specifically to Germaine Tailleferre, a member of the group of early 20th-century French composers known as 'Les Six'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun and primarily functions as a surname. It is not found in standard English dictionaries, but appears in biographical, historical, and musicological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare in both varieties, confined to discussions of classical music or French cultural history.
Connotations
Associated with French culture, classical music, and the early 20th-century avant-garde.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general English usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in academic, musicological, or high-cultural publications.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The name Tailleferre is associated with...Germaine Tailleferre, a composer, was...Tailleferre, who was born in..., composed...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in musicology, French cultural studies, and biographies of 20th-century composers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in concert programme notes, music history texts, and composer catalogues.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a picture of Germaine Tailleferre.
- Germaine Tailleferre was a famous French composer.
- As the only female member of Les Six, Tailleferre's work often explored neoclassical styles.
- Tailleferre's piano concerto, with its witty and transparent textures, exemplifies her contribution to the aesthetic of Les Six, which reacted against both Wagnerian heaviness and Impressionist vagueness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TAIL' of a musical score, 'FERRE' sounds like 'fair' - a fair composer in the group Les Six.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not translating the surname, as it is a proper noun.
- Confusing it with 'taille' (waist) or 'fer' (iron) which are unrelated common words.
Common Mistakes
- Capitalizing only the first letter (e.g., Tailleferre)
- Mispronouncing it as an English compound (tail-fer).
- Treating it as a common noun.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Tailleferre' primarily known as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a French proper noun (surname) that appears in English texts when referring to the composer Germaine Tailleferre.
In British English, it is often approximated as /ˌtɑːjˈfɛə/. In American English, it may be pronounced closer to the French as /ˌtaɪˈfɛr/.
It is included due to the cultural and historical significance of Germaine Tailleferre in Western classical music, making it a proper noun that English readers may encounter.
No, it is exclusively a proper noun (a surname). It has no meaning as a common noun in English.