Joseph Benda (1724–1804) was a Bohemian violinist and composer, a prominent member of the esteemed Benda family of musicians. He was active during the Classical period and spent much of his career as a court musician in Prussia.
Born in Benátky nad Jizerou, Bohemia, Joseph Benda was one of the ten children of Jan Jiří Benda, a weaver and musician. The Benda family became renowned for their musical talent, with several of Joseph's siblings also achieving significant musical careers, most notably his elder brother František Benda and younger brother Jiří Antonín Benda. Joseph Benda received his early musical training within his family.
In 1742, Joseph Benda followed his elder brother František to the court of King Frederick the Great in Potsdam, Prussia, where he secured a position as a violinist in the royal chapel. He remained in service to the Prussian court for the rest of his life, becoming concertmaster after the death of his brother František in 1786. He continued in this role under Frederick William II and Frederick William III. Benda was highly regarded for his virtuosity on the violin and his contributions to the court's musical life. His compositions, though less numerous and preserved than those of his more famous siblings, include violin concertos and sonatas, reflecting the stylistic trends of the Berlin School.
Related topics include the Benda family of musicians (František Benda, Jiří Antonín Benda, Anna Franziska Benda), Classical period music, violin literature, and the musical culture of the Prussian court under Frederick the Great.