Composer, teacher, and music theorist, born in Prague. From 1785 he played flute with the Electoral orchestra at Bonn, taught piano in Hamburg (1794--9), then moved to Paris, where he had two symphonies performed. He lived in Vienna (1801--8) and subsequently in Paris, where his pupils included Liszt, Berlioz, Franck, and Gounod. His use of counterpoint and instrumental sonority was highly original, as seen in his 36 Fugues and his use of timpani chords. His 24 quintets for woodwind have remained popular.