(b Joinville, 31 Jan 1759; d Paris, 5 Sept 1803). French composer. He was active in Paris as a flautist, bassoonist and composer, c 1780-85 and from 1788. He wrote successful operas in the 1790s, notably Les visitandines (1792) which brought him much fame. From 1790 he taught in the Paris National Guard school; when this became the Conservatoire in 1795, he was appointed an administrator and flute professor. Most of his c 300 instrumental works are for wind, among them seven symphonies concertantes, c 20 concertos and many chamber works, in an elegant melodic style; he also wrote romances, patriotic songs and an important flute method (1794). His works did much to raise the level of French wind music in the late 18th century.

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