Background
Franz Beck was born on the 20th of November, 1734 in Mannheim, Germany. His father Johann Aloys Beck was an oboist and Rector of the Choir School at the Palatinate Court in Mannheim.
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Franz Beck was born on the 20th of November, 1734 in Mannheim, Germany. His father Johann Aloys Beck was an oboist and Rector of the Choir School at the Palatinate Court in Mannheim.
He was the most talented pupil of Johann Stamitz, Beck is an important representative of the second generation of the so-called Mannheim school. He also learned double bass and organ, among other instruments, and eventually came under the tutelage of Johann Stamitz, the director of instrumental music and leader of the brilliant Mannheim court orchestra. Beck's talents were quickly recognized and the Prince elector of the Electorate of the Palatinate, Charles Theodore undertook responsibility for his education.
In 1761 Beck moved from Marseilles to Bordeaux where he became director of concerts and was appointed musical director with the dramatic company of the Marechal Duc de Richelieu, which in 1780 moved into the newly built Grand Theatre. He also was active as organist and teacher. Among his more prominent pupils were Pierre Gaveaux, Henri Blanchard and Nicolas Bochsa. On 24 October 1774 he was appointed organist at St Seurin, Bordeaux, where his improvisatory powers won him admiration from the congregation.
Beck had six daughters, two of whom died early. His only son was commander of a French corvette during the Napoleonic wars, and was held captive by the English for a long time.