André-Frédéric Eler was born in Alsace in 1764 and came to Paris at an early age. Nothing is known about his youth or his musical training; a first surviving vocal work is said to have been performed at a Concert spirituel in 1787. His compositional skills seem to have brought him rapid success: in 1794 he was appointed to the jury of the Institut National de Musique (the later Conservatoire de Musique). On 14 August 1795 he became the institute's librarian, a post he held until February 1797. In 1798 he was given a class in accompaniment. He then served in turn as professor of solfège (1800) and head of a class in “préparation vocale” (1801). After becoming professor of solfège again in 1807, he was entrusted on 1 April 1816 with the prestigious professorship of counterpoint and fugue. He was unable to hold it for long: Eler died in Paris on 21 April 1821. After his death, his widow received an honorary pension in recognition of her husband's services.
This Concerto No. 1 for horn was published around 1796 by Naderman (later Imbault) in Paris. The title page states: Ce Concerto a été exécuté plusieurs fois aux Concerts de la Rue Feydeaux par le Cit. Frédéric Duvernois [sic]. The young and successful hornist Frédéric Duvernoy, who had published his own first concerto in 1795, seems to have inspired Eler; he may also have commissioned this concerto and advised Eler on it.
The string section of the orchestra is scored 5/5/4/5.
