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Benda Franz
Albinoni, Tomaso Giovanni
Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Bach, Wilhelm Friedmann
Barre, Michel de la
Benda, Franz
Blavet, Michel
Boccherini, Luigi
Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de
Čart, Jiří
Chédeville, Nicolas
Corelli, Arcangelo
Corrette, Michel
Couperin, François
Handel, George Frideric
Hotteterre, Jacques-Martin
Leclair, Jean-Marie l'aîné
Locatelli, Pietro Antonio
Loeillet (de Gant), Jean-Baptiste
Marais, Marin
Marc, Thomas
Marcello, Benedetto
Martini, Giovanni Battista
Müthel, Johann Gottfried
Pachelbel, Johann
Pergolesi, Giovanni Battista
Platti, Giovanni Benedetto
Quantz, Johann Joachim
Telemann, Georg Philipp
Tromlitz, Johann George
Vitali, Tomaso Antonio
Vivaldi, Antonio
Concerto for flute and orchestra in E minor
Concerto for flute and orchestra in E minor
Franz Benda: Concerto in E minor for flute, strings, and continuo was composed for his employer, the Crown Prince Frederik of Prussia, who later became the King of Prussia and was a masterful flutist, pupil of Johann Joachim Quantz. This concerto is generally estimated to have been written between the late 1740s and 1760s.
Some scholars suggest this specific E minor concerto, with its "nervous" energy and complexity, may actually have been intended for private salon performances in Berlin rather than for the King himself, as its style deviates from Frederick's more conservative tastes.
By the mid-1740s, Benda was a prominent violinist at Frederick the Great's court in Potsdam. He spent his entire career in service to the King, eventually being named Royal Concertmaster in 1771.
In 1742, King Frederick famously helped Benda relocate his entire family to Potsdam to escape religious persecution in Bohemia. This secured a stable environment for Benda's prolific compositional output during these decades.
Benda was a leading figure of the Berlin or North German School, along with Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. The composition reflects the Empfindsamer Stil (sensitive style), which prioritized emotional expression and lyrical elegance over strict Baroque counterpoint.
The concerto is written for a flute soloist accompanied by a string orchestra and continuo. The continuo part may be performed by a harpsichord, organ, or cello, providing harmonic support and bassline.
Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Peter Schreier (conductor), 1994, Deutsche Grammophon / Universal
1. Allegro con brio
Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Peter Schreier (conductor), 1994, Deutsche Grammophon / Universal
2. Adagio un poco andante
Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Peter Schreier (conductor), 1994, Deutsche Grammophon / Universal
3. Presto
Slovak Chamber Orchestra, Bohdan Warchal (conductor), 2014 (?), Bella Musica
1. Allegro con brio, 2. Adagio un poco andante, 3. Presto
Benda Franz
Franz Benda (1709–1786) was a Bohemian violinist and composer (Czech: František Benda) who served as the long-time concertmaster for Frederick the Great. He was a foundational figure in the Berlin School, bridging the gap between the High Baroque and the Classical era through the expressive Empfindsamer Stil (sensitive style).
Born in Staré Benátky, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), Benda was the eldest son of a musical weaver. His family was remarkably talented: three of his brothers, Johann, Georg, and Joseph, also became professional musicians. His career began as a boy soprano. At age nine, he ran away to Prague to join the choir of St. Nicholas Church and later served as a chorister in Dresden. When his voice broke, he transitioned fully to the violin.
In his late teens and early twenties, Benda lived a somewhat nomadic life, performing in the service of various noblemen in Vienna, Warsaw, and Dresden. During this period, he was deeply influenced by the Italian violin school, particularly the works of Antonio Vivaldi and Tartini.
In 1733, Benda was recruited to join the private orchestra of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia (later Frederick the Great). As a Protestant in Catholic Bohemia, Benda faced religious restrictions. In 1742, King Frederick personally arranged for Benda’s parents and siblings to emigrate to Potsdam, where they were granted religious freedom and positions within the royal musical establishment.
Benda remained in Frederick's service for the rest of his life (53 years). In 1771, he succeeded Johann Joachim Quantz as First Concertmaster. He famously accompanied the King in nightly private flute concerts at the Sanssouci Palace.
Benda was celebrated as one of the greatest violinists of the 18th century. His compositions, particularly his flute concertos (such as the famous Concerto in E minor) and violin sonatas, are noted for their "singing" quality and emotional depth.
He was a prolific teacher, establishing a violin school that influenced generations of German string players. Additionally, Franz Benda is regarded as a pivotal figure in the development of the concerto form. Overall, he composed 17 symphonies, 28 violin concertos, and more than 300 sonatas for various instruments.
His autobiography, written in 1763, remains one of the most important primary sources for understanding the life of an 18th-century court musician.