Taffanel, who took over a flute class in 1893, regularly commissioned new compositions for the annual competition, and over time amassed a whole repertoire of technically challenging pieces suitable for the Conservatoire's requirements.

I will leave the form of it entirely up to you; whether an Andante followed by an Allegro, or a single movement, but it needs to contain the wherewithal to test the examinees on matters of phrasing, expression, tone control, and virtuosity.

"[4] Fauré strictly adhered to the instructions, and received Taffanel's help in creating the flute part, thanking him in a letter dated to June 1898: "Forgive me for not having thanked you immediately: I have been constantly busy here.

[3] The Fantaisie, together with a smaller sight-reading piece titled Morceau de lecture, were given an eightfold premiere at the competition on 28 July 1898, namely by all of Taffanel's students.

[1] The Fantaisie consists of two movements separated only by a grand pause: Fauré specified a playing time of four-and-a-half minutes.