(b. 15 March 1773 in Versailles; d. 28 July 1845 in Paris) was the son of a German military musician. He received his musical training from his brother Michel-Joseph (oboe) and François Devienne (bassoon). At the age of fifteen he joined the Garde suisse in Versailles as a bassoonist, soon following his brother to Paris, where he became a member of the Musique de la garde nationale de Paris. In 1795 he was appointed professor of bassoon at the Conservatoire de Paris, a post he held until 1802 and again from 1824 to 1838. Around 1800 he became a bassoonist at the Grande Opéra. Gebauer's output includes thirteen bassoon concertos, eight symphonies, and numerous chamber works with and for wind instruments.
3 Quartets for Horn, Violin, Viola and Bass, Op. 37
The three quartets for horn, violin, viola and bass presented here are dedicated to the French horn virtuoso Jean Lebrun (1759–1809), who served as principal horn in the royal chapel in Berlin. It is possible, however, that Gebauer also had in mind his brother Pierre Paul Gebauer (b. 1775 in Versailles), who was likewise a horn player — horn duos by him are known — and who died at a young age.
This edition is based on the first printed edition of the work, published by the Paris firm of Jouve.
