FRANÇOIS DEVIENNE (b. 1759 Joinville - d. 1803 Paris) 
was the most important French composer of wind music during the late 18th-century. A prodigiously gifted child, François learned to play many instruments and soon mastered the flute and bassoon with equal ease. At age ten he wrote a mass, which was performed by musicians of the Royal Cravate regiment. In 1779 Devienne joined the bassoon section of the Paris Opéra for one season, during which time he studied flute with the orchestra's principal flautist. In 1781 he became a Freemason and played flute in the orchestra of the Loge Olympique. He made his solo debut in 1782 at the Concert Spirituel where he performed one of his flute concertos. Two years later he debuted there on bassoon performing his first bassoon concerto. In 1789 Devienne became second bassoonist at the Théâtre de Monsieur (later the Théâtre Feydeau) and the following year moved up to principal chair, a position he held until his retirement in 1801. In 1790 he joined the band of the Guarde Nationale where his duties included teaching and performing at official state functions. With the establishment of the Conservatoire in 1795, Devienne was appointed one of its administrators and a professor of flute. In 1803 he suffered a nervous breakdown and was admitted to a mental hospital where he died later that year. François Devienne was a highly esteemed teacher, soloist, and chamber musician. He was also a prolific and successful composer. He wrote 12 operas, 7 sinfonie concertantes, 14 flute concertos, 5 bassoon concertos, 25 quartets, 46 trios, 147 duos, and 67 sonatas. He also wrote a great deal of military music and the popular Méthode de Flûte (1793) which is still widely used today for its valuable insight into the flute techniques and performing practices of the time.
was the most important French composer of wind music during the late 18th-century. A prodigiously gifted child, François learned to play many instruments and soon mastered the flute and bassoon with equal ease. At age ten he wrote a mass, which was performed by musicians of the Royal Cravate regiment. In 1779 Devienne joined the bassoon section of the Paris Opéra for one season, during which time he studied flute with the orchestra's principal flautist. In 1781 he became a Freemason and played flute in the orchestra of the Loge Olympique. He made his solo debut in 1782 at the Concert Spirituel where he performed one of his flute concertos. Two years later he debuted there on bassoon performing his first bassoon concerto. In 1789 Devienne became second bassoonist at the Théâtre de Monsieur (later the Théâtre Feydeau) and the following year moved up to principal chair, a position he held until his retirement in 1801. In 1790 he joined the band of the Guarde Nationale where his duties included teaching and performing at official state functions. With the establishment of the Conservatoire in 1795, Devienne was appointed one of its administrators and a professor of flute. In 1803 he suffered a nervous breakdown and was admitted to a mental hospital where he died later that year. François Devienne was a highly esteemed teacher, soloist, and chamber musician. He was also a prolific and successful composer. He wrote 12 operas, 7 sinfonie concertantes, 14 flute concertos, 5 bassoon concertos, 25 quartets, 46 trios, 147 duos, and 67 sonatas. He also wrote a great deal of military music and the popular Méthode de Flûte (1793) which is still widely used today for its valuable insight into the flute techniques and performing practices of the time. 
ascolta, it listens,il écoute, es hört