The Benda family and its musical tradition, which continues to this day, were founded by the first Jan Jiří Benda, who was born in 1686 in Bohemia. In 1706 he married Dorota Brixi, a member of a well-known Bohemian musical family. Of their six sons, five were to distinguish themselves musicians. The first surviving son, František Benda, born in 1709, was a prolific composer. His style of composition exemplifies the transition from the baroque period to the classical era. Both violin concertos by František recorded on this disc date from 1760 and are fine examples of his musical art. Jan Jiří the younger, born in 1713, was renowned as an excellent violinist and viola player.