Quick Facts
Biography
Johann Friedrich Ernst Benda, also Ernst Friedrich Johann Benda, Ernst Benda, (1747 in Berlin - 24 February 1785 in Berlin) was a German musician and composer of Bohemian origin.
Life
Johann Friedrich Ernst Benda was the eldest son of the court musician and Kapellmeister Joseph Benda. From an early age, he received instruction on piano and violin from hs father, and in 1766 at the age of 19, was employed in the royal Hofkapelle of Frederick the Great in Berlin as Kammermusikus. In 1770, together with the violist Carl Ludwig Bachmann, he founded the so-called Liebhaberkonzerte, which he directed until his death. These performances, which continued until 1797, took place in the Corsicaischen Saale opposite Schloss Monbijou (today Oranienburger Straße) and were mostly subscription events with his own orchestra and choir. One notable guest soloist was Johann Friedrich Reichardt, who later married Juliane Benda (d. 1785) and then Minna Brandes (daughter of actor and poet Johann Christian Brandes).
Wilhelm Otto Gottlieb Benda (1775–1832), one of three sons of Johann Friedrich Ernst Benda became Kriminalrat and mayor of Landsut, Silesia (today Kamienna Góra, Poland) and made a name for himself as a translator and writer.
Works
- Minuetto per il Cembalo con Variazioni in F major, 1768 listed in Breitkopf
- Concerto in G major for violin, strings and continuo (listed in MGG)