François Auguste Gevaert
Tchaikovsky Research
Belgian composer, teacher, historian and lecturer (b. 31 July 1828 [N.S.] in Zingum; d. 24 December 1908 [N.S.] in Brussels).
Although Gevaert's compositions have been largely now forgotten, he is perhaps best remembered for his textbook on orchestration, Traité général d'instrumentation. Exposé méthodique des principes de cet art dans leur application à l'orchestre, à la musique d'harmonie et de fanfares, etc. (Liège: Gand, 1863).
During the summer of 1865 Tchaikovsky translated Gevaert's Traité into Russian, as Handbook for Instrumentation (Руководство к инструментовке), and this was published by Pyotr Jurgenson the following year.
