Antoine Reicha (1770-1836) is a composer of Czech origin, who also lived in Hamburg and Vienna before finally settling in Paris in 1808. He obtained French citizenship after having taught for many years at the Conservatoire National de musique de Paris. It was in this city that he claimed to have composed the first work for the formation of the now traditional wind quintet in 1811, but it would seem that the palm should rather go to Nikolaus Schmidt, author of three works now lost. Following his first experience that he considered a failure, Reicha composed "in a new style more appropriate to the nature of wind instruments ", the largest body of works to date for this ensemble: 4 groups 6 wind quintets, opus numbers 88, 91, 99 and 100. All works are of symphonic dimensions, in some cases up to 45 minutes in lenght, where the sonata form - the term used for the first time by Reicha! - was developed in an original way.

Recent research put a new light on Reicha's works and allow us to better understand his compositions and in many ways their avant-garde nature. 

Friend of Beethoven and Haydn, Reicha was the professor of Berlioz, Franck, Gounod, Liszt and Thomas and also influenced a large number of composers by his writings.