Gebauer was born in La Fère in Aisne. He became an oboist in the Royal Swiss Guard at the age of 14, as well as becoming expert at both the violin and viol. In 1791 he became oboist in the Garde Nationale, and in 1794 professor at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he stayed until 1802. Thereafter he served as bandmaster of the Garde des Consuls and of its successor the Imperial Guard. He accompanied the army during a number of campaigns, during which he studied and incorporated elements from German military music. He died while accompanying the Grande Armée on its disastrous invasion of Russia, during the retreat from Moscow.