(b Philippeville, 20 Jan 1762; d Charenton, 25 Aug 1842). Belgian theorist and composer. His writings on rhythm and harmony (1803-34) in some ways ingeniously anticipate modern music theory; he proposed, for example, that the real rhythmic unit straddles the bar-line and that a single tonality embraces 17 notes. His compositions are mainly salon music.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.