BENDA J.A. (1722-1795) HARPSICHORD CONCERTOS Vol 3. / E.Keglerová / Hipocondria Ensemble

Jiří Antonín Benda (1722-1795) - Concerto in F major

1. Allegro 6:39

2. Andantino quasi allegretto 8:57

3. Allegro assai 5:34

Jiří Antonín Benda - Concertino in C major

4. Mezzo allegro 3:49

5. Tempo di minuetto 2:19

Jiří Antonín Benda - Concerto in G major

6. Non tanto allegro 8:15

7. Andante 7:36

8. Allegretto 4:32

Jiří Antonín Benda - Sonata in C major

9. Allegro 8:28

10. Andante con motto 4:46

11. Allegro 4:24

Jiří Antonín Benda - Sonata in G major

12. Allegro 6:58

13. Andante con motto 2:59

14. Allegro assai 4:25

Edita Keglerová harpsichord

Hipocondria Ensemble:

Jan Hádek violin, Jiří Sycha violin, Michal Dušek viola, Ondřej Michal cello, Michal Novák double-bass

Jiří Antonín Benda (1722-1795) was born in Staré Benátky and was educated by the Piarists in Kroměříž and by the Jesuits in Jičín. He was able fully to develop his talent once he had arrived in Prussia, where the Benda family, members of the Czech Brethren church, relocated after the events at White Mountain. This was not a step into the unknown for them, however, since Jiří's older brother František had been working here successfully for several years by this stage. 20-year-old Jiří Antonín was accepted into the Royal Prussian Court Orchestra in Berlin as second violinist; he was also a capable oboist and harpsichordist. This latter instrument was the domain in the orchestra of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, with whom Benda became friends and remained in contact later on as well. In 1750 Jiří Antonín was appointed court Kapellmeister in Gotha for Thuringian Duke Frederick III. We might suppose that he succeeded in gaining this position over court composer Johann Friedrich Agricola not only for his accomplishments, but perhaps also thanks to his considerable favour at court and through František's connections as well In his new place of work Benda initially wrote instrumental and sacred music, since a permanent opera stage was not established here until 1774. It was only after this that he produced four Singspiels in Gotha, along with the famous melodramas (Ariadne auf Naxos and Medea). After almost thirty years in service, Jiří Antonín resigned from his post (Kapelldirector) and spent the following two years looking in vain for a new position. In the end he returned to Gotha, living out of the public eye, and devoted his energies to publishing his works. His oeuvre also includes thirty symphonies, harpsichord and violin concertos; his last work was the cantata Benda Klagen for soprano and orchestra.

(Arta Records 2011)