Franz Benda

Biography

Born: November 22, 1709; Alt-Benatek, Czechoslovakia   Died: March 7, 1786; Neuendorf, Germany  
Franz Benda was one of the leaders in a generation of Bohemian musicians who entered Austrian and German musical life, filling important roles in the development of late Baroque and early Classical music.

Frantisek Benda (later Germanized to Franz) was the oldest of five musical children of a linen weaver and village musician who had married Dorota Brixi, an offspring of another major Bohemian music family. This was the foundation Read more of a dynasty of musicians that continues to this day, when one can readily obtain compact discs performed by a family group called the Benda Musicians.

Frantisek, the eldest, became a choirboy at St. Nicholas church in Prague when he was nine, giving him the opportunity for musical studies. However, he ran away from its discipline at 11 to Dresden, Germany, where he got a similar position and learned violin. He returned to Prague in 1723, becoming alto soloist in a Jesuit seminary, where he received a good general and musical education, remaining there until his voice changed and he then returned home and resumed violin studies.

When he got a little older, he fell in love with a baker's daughter and petitioned the local count for permission to learn the secrets of Bohemian gingerbread. The count offered as an alternative to pay Benda's way to Prague for more violin studies. After ten weeks, his teacher there, Konicek, pronounced him a fully trained professional. Benda later said he learned more by following around a Jewish street musician named Lebel.

The 16-year-old Benda escaped Bohemia without permission and got work in Poland. Benda formed a house orchestra for Governor Suchaczewski that was so good he was hired away by the King of Poland, Augustus II the Strong, in 1732. The king died a year later, leaving Benda unemployed. He went to Dresden, got a job, and came to the attention of King Frederick the Great of Prussia, who hired him in 1740 to a job Benda kept for life. He even accompanied Frederick (who was a flute player) on his military campaigns. He had six children, among whom four (two boys and two girls) became professional musicians. His main compositional legacy is an assortment of violin sonatas written at the Prussian court, in which he influenced the future development of violin playing. These manuscripts also contain many observations about style and ornamentation of the period, valuable to research in the "authentic" performance movement. Read less

Featured Franz Benda CDs & DVDs:

Jan Jiri And Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos Vol 1
Jan Jiri And Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos Vol 1
Release Date: 11/20/2001   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8553902   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 1-23 of 23 Available Recordings
  • 1.
    Vivarte Collection, Vol. 2
    Vivarte Collection, Vol. 2
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 2367 Release Date: 11/18/2016   Number of Discs: 60
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johannes Brahms  ... 
    Performer:  Markus Schäfer,  Jonas Will,  Johannes Pohl,  Harry Van der Kamp  ... 
    Conductor:  Konrad Ruhland,  Gustav Leonhardt,  Frieder Bernius,  Bruno Weil  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Niederaltaich Scholars,  Tölz Boys Choir,  Baroque Orchestra  ... 
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  • 2.
    Flute Concertos & Sonatas
    Flute Concertos & Sonatas
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 88725463922 Release Date: 06/10/2016   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Carl Stamitz,  Franz Xaver Richter,  Johann Wenzel Stamitz,  Franz Joseph Haydn  ... 
    Performer:  Barthold Kuijken,  Claire Guimond,  Frans Brüggen,  Bob van Asperen  ... 
    Conductor:  Jeanne Lamon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Tafelmusik
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  • 3.
    Il Violino Boemo - Benda, Gurecky, Jiranek / Torgersen, Luks, Masek
    Il Violino Boemo - Benda, Gurecky, Jiranek / Torgersen, Luks, Masek
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 4151 Release Date: 01/28/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Frantisek Jiranek,  Josef Antonín Gurecký
    Performer:  Lenka Torgersen,  Václav Luks,  Libor Masek
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  • 4.
    Flute Music At The Berlin Court: Benda, Quantz, Kirnberger, C.p.e. Bach, Graun
    Flute Music At The Berlin Court: Benda, Quantz, Kirnberger, C.p.e. Bach, Graun
    Label: Accent   Catalog: 10140 Release Date: 09/03/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach,  Johann Philipp Kirnberger  ... 
    Performer:  Ewald Demeyere,  Frank Theuns
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  • 5.
    Flotenkonzerte Aus Sanssouci / Gallois, Schreier
    Flotenkonzerte Aus Sanssouci / Gallois, Schreier
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001818702 Release Date: 04/02/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Franz Benda,  Frederick the Great,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
    Performer:  Klaus Kirbach,  Patrick Gallois,  Karl-Heinz Schröter,  Harald Winkler
    Conductor:  Peter Schreier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra
    CD: $7.99
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  • 6.
    Flute Concertos At Sanssouci - A Tribute To Frederick The Great / Pahud, Pinnock
    Flute Concertos At Sanssouci - A Tribute To Frederick The Great / Pahud, Pinnock
    Label: C Major   Catalog: 711308 Release Date: 08/28/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frederick the Great,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Franz Benda,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
    Performer:  Emmanuel Pahud
    Conductor:  Trevor Pinnock
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Potsdam Chamber Academy
    DVD: $24.99
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  • 7.
    Flute Concertos At Sanssouci - A Tribute To Frederick The Great / Pahud, Pinnock [blu-ray]
    Flute Concertos At Sanssouci - A Tribute To Frederick The Great / Pahud, Pinnock [blu-ray]
    Label: C Major   Catalog: 711404 Release Date: 08/28/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frederick the Great,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Franz Benda,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
    Performer:  Emmanuel Pahud
    Conductor:  Trevor Pinnock
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Potsdam Chamber Academy
    On sale! $39.99
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  • 8.
    Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos / Zenatý, Prague Philharmonia
    Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos / Zenatý, Prague Philharmonia
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 4064 Release Date: 05/15/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda
    Performer:  Ivan Zenaty
    Conductor:  Ivan Zenaty
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Prague Philharmonia
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  • 9.
    Solo For The King / Semeradova, Cuiller, Torgersen, Flekova
    Solo For The King / Semeradova, Cuiller, Torgersen, Flekova
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 4087 Release Date: 05/15/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johann Philipp Kirnberger,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach  ... 
    Performer:  Lenka Torgersen,  Jana Semerádová,  Bertrand Cuiller,  Hana Fleková
    CD: $19.99
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  • 10.
    The Flute King / Emmanuel Pahud, Trevor Pinnock, Kammerakademie Potsdam
    The Flute King / Emmanuel Pahud, Trevor Pinnock, Kammerakademie Potsdam
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 0842302 Release Date: 01/10/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach,  Franz Benda,  Frederick the Great,  Johann Joachim Quantz  ... 
    Performer:  Emmanuel Pahud,  Trevor Pinnock,  Matthew Truscott
    Conductor:  Trevor Pinnock
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Potsdam Chamber Academy
    CD: $19.99
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  • 11.
    A Golden Treasury Of Flute Music / Beznosiuk, Ikeda, Et Al
    A Golden Treasury Of Flute Music / Beznosiuk, Ikeda, Et Al
    Label: Amon Ra   Catalog: 70 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Thomas Augustine Arne,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach,  Mauro Giuliani  ... 
    Performer:  Richard Burnett,  Jennifer Ward-Clarke,  Stephen Preston,  Mark Caudle  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nouveau Quartet,  Preston's Pocket,  Cambridge Baroque Camerata  ... 
    CD: $18.99
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  • 12.
    Rare Baroque Flute Concertos / Neil Mclaren
    Rare Baroque Flute Concertos / Neil Mclaren
    Label: Amon Ra   Catalog: 52 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Jacques-Christoph Naudot,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Giuseppe Tartini
    Performer:  Neil McLaren
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cambridge Baroque Camerata
    CD: $18.99
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  • 13.
    Franz & Georg Anton Benda: Concerti / Terakado, Ad-el, Benda, De Winne, Et Al
    Franz & Georg Anton Benda: Concerti / Terakado, Ad-el, Benda, De Winne, Et Al
    Label: Accent   Catalog: 24215 Release Date: 11/24/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georg Anton Benda,  Franz Benda
    Performer:  Shalev Ad-El,  Ryo Terakado,  Jan De Winne
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Gardellino
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  • 14.
    The Flute at the Court of Frederick the Great / Jean-Pierre Rampal
    The Flute at the Court of Frederick the Great / Jean-Pierre Rampal
    Label: Cbs Masterworks   Catalog: 39702 Release Date: 05/07/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Frederick the Great,  Franz Benda
    Performer:  Jean-Pierre Rampal
    Conductor:  Jean-Pierre Wallez
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Paris Orchestral Ensemble
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  • 15.
    The Most Relaxing Flute Music In The Universe
    The Most Relaxing Flute Music In The Universe
    Label: Denon Records   Catalog: 17593 Release Date: 03/14/2006   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Michel Blavet,  Benedetto Marcello,  Johann Gottfried Müthel  ... 
    Performer:  Masahiro Arita,  Chiyoko Arita,  Wieland Kuijken,  Tetsuya Nakano  ... 
    Conductor:  Maximiano Valdes,  Hans Stadlmair,  Jean-Pierre Rampal
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nice Philharmonic Orchestra,  Munich Chamber Orchestra,  Mozart String Trio  ... 
    CD: $12.99
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  • 16.
    Art Of Flute - Vivaldi, Bach, Benda / Baarova, Et Al
    Art Of Flute - Vivaldi, Bach, Benda / Baarova, Et Al
    Label: Euromusica   Catalog: 12 Release Date: 08/30/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Gioachino Rossini,  Antonín Dvorák,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Lenka Baarova,  Jan Niederle
    Conductor:  Jan Niederle
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Baarova Ensemble
    On sale! $23.98
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  • 17.
    Jan Jiri And Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos Vol 1
    Jan Jiri And Frantisek Benda: Violin Concertos Vol 1
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8553902 Release Date: 11/20/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Jan Jiri Benda
    Performer:  Ariane Pfister-Benda,  Josef Suk
    Conductor:  Christian Benda
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Suk Chamber Orchestra
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  • 18.
    David & Igor Oistrakh - Bach, Händel, Vivaldi, Benda, Et Al
    David & Igor Oistrakh - Bach, Händel, Vivaldi, Benda, Et Al
    Label: Dg The Originals   Catalog: 463616 Release Date: 03/01/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Pablo de Sarasate,  Henri Wieniawski  ... 
    Performer:  David Oistrakh,  Hans Pischner,  Igor Oistrakh,  Vladimir Yampolsky
    Conductor:  David Oistrakh,  Franz Konwitschny
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
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  • 19.
    Benda, Cpe Bach, Haydn: Flute Concertos / Haraldsdóttir
    Label: Intim Musik   Catalog: 38 Release Date: 05/14/1996   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach,  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Ashildur Haraldsdóttir
    Conductor:  Thord Svedlund
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Umeĺ Sinfonietta
    CD: $17.99
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  • 20.
    From The Court Of Frederick The Great / Kuijken, Van Asperen
    From The Court Of Frederick The Great / Kuijken, Van Asperen
    Label: Sony Classical Vivarte Series   Catalog: 66267 Release Date: 03/19/1996   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frederick the Great,  Carl Heinrich Graun,  Johann Philipp Kirnberger,  Johann Gottfried Müthel  ... 
    Performer:  Bob van Asperen,  Barthold Kuijken,  Wieland Kuijken
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  • 21.
    Stamitz: Flute Concerto / Helasvuo, Saraste, Helsinki
    Stamitz: Flute Concerto / Helasvuo, Saraste, Helsinki
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 268 Release Date: 09/22/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda,  Carl Stamitz
    Performer:  Mikael Helasvuo
    Conductor:  Jukka-Pekka Saraste
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Helsinki Chamber Orchestra
    On sale! $21.99
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  • 22.
    Benda: Flute Concertos / Andras Adorjan, Milan Munclinger
    Benda: Flute Concertos / Andras Adorjan, Milan Munclinger
    Label: Orfeo   Catalog: 151101 Release Date: 03/04/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Benda
    Performer:  András Adorján
    Conductor:  Milan Munclinger
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Rediviva
    CD: $22.49
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  • 23.
    Music, My Love / Jean-Pierre Rampal
    Music, My Love / Jean-Pierre Rampal
    Label: Cbs Masterworks   Catalog: 45548 Release Date: 05/25/1989   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Fernande Le Borne,  Johann Joachim Quantz,  Traditional  ... 
    Performer:  Robert Veyron-Lacroix,  Jean-Pierre Rampal,  Jean Huchot,  Lily Laskine  ... 
    Conductor:  Placido Domingo,  Jean-Pierre Wallez,  Claudio Scimone,  Michel Colombier  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Paris Orchestral Ensemble,  Paris Baroque Ensemble  ... 
    ArkivCD $16.99
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