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Discography · 2025 · 2 CD

Franz Ignaz Beck: Sonatas for Keyboard Op. 5

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This album continues Muskens’ tribute to the Carl Theodor Jubilee Year (1724-2024) with compositions by German composer, violinist, director and keyboardist Franz Ignaz Beck (1734-1809), performed on original instruments. Muskens recorded this album on a Square Pianoforte by Longman & Broderip (John Geib), London 1788 (restored by Paul Kobald in 2018) from his own personal collection. Carl Theodor was a prominent regional monarch in German history, cultivating the Mannheim court orchestra; 2024 marks the 300th anniversary of his birth.

Franz Ignaz Beck was born in Mannheim, given his musical education by Johann Stamitz, famous composer, violin virtuoso and director of the Mannheim Court Orchestra. His early career was dramatically impacted by a duel during which his opponent feigned death. To avoid repercussions, Beck fled and travelled extensively throughout Italy, performing concerts and refining his compositional abilities. He settled in France, and later faced a tribunal during the French Revolution along with his entire theatre ensemble. Fortunately, he was proven innocent and continued as a central figure in Bordeaux’s cultural life until his death in 1809. He wrote symphonies, vocal and operatic works and keyboard sonatas. The 18 Sonates pour le Clavecin ou le Piano Forte were published in Paris around 1772 and are full of wit, charm, sensuality and coquetry.

TRACK LISTING

Disc 1

  1. Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major: Andante grazioso
  2. Sonata No. 2 in F major: Andante
  3. Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major: Allegro
  4. Sonata No. 4 in F major: Tempo di minuetto “La Resolue”
  5. Sonata No. 5 in A major: Presto
  6. Sonata No. 6 in F minor: Tempo moderato – Allegro maggiore “La Mendiante”
  7. Sonata No. 7 in F major: Moderato
  8. Minuetto in B-flat major I, II (Minore)
  9. Sonata No. 8 in B-flat major: Allegretto
  10. Sonata No. 9 in B-flat major: Andante grazioso

Disc 2

  1. Allegretto in C major
  2. Sonata No. 10 in B-flat major: Grazioso
  3. Sonata No. 11 in G major: Allegretto
  4. Sonata No. 12 in E-flat major: Andante grazioso
  5. Sonata No. 13 in G major: Andantino
  6. Sonata No. 14 in G major: Minuetto I, II (Minore)
  7. Sonata No. 15 in G major. Suite “La de Laroze”
  8. Sonata No. 16 in F major. Allegro con spirito
  9. Sonata No. 17 in G major. Andantino
  10. Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major. Allegro maestoso “La Souveraine”