This composer was born 15 March 1773 in Versailles and died 28 July 1845 in Paris. His father was a military musician. François-René Gebauer was trained by his brothers Joseph (oboe) and François Devienne (fagot). At the age of fifteen, he joined Garde suisse of Versailles playing the fagot and soon followed his brother playing at the Musique de la garde nationale de Paris. In 1795, he became teacher for fagot at the Conservatoire in Paris, working there until 1802 and from 1824 to 1838. He was employed at the Grande Opera about 1800. The compositions of Gebauer include thirteen concerti for fagot, eight symponies and numerous chamber music pieces with and for wind instruments.
3 Quartets for horn, violin, viola and basso op.37
These three quartets for horn, violin, viola and basso are dedicated to the French horn virtuoso Jean Lebrun (1759.1809), who played in the Royal Chapel in Berlin. It is possible, that Gebauer also thought of his brother Pierré Paul Gebauer (* 1775 in Versaille) while composing these quartets. His brother played the horn.
This edition is based on the first print of this piece of music, published by Jouve in Paris.