Beck, Frederick

Frederick Beck is part of the group referred to by some as the “Twelve Apostles,” a group of German piano manufacturers who moved to England, helping it become one of the hubs of piano innovation in Europe. There is little information available about Beck’s early life, but he is known to have operated in Paris before coming to England; his store or workshop there was located at 364 Rue Saint-Denis. Beck moved to England and operated a shop in London at 4 Broad Street, Golden Square. His earliest piano is a square piano dated to 1772, so he was in London at least by 1772. Beck’s pianos were primarily square pianos, and mainly contained an English single action.

Literature References:

Clinkscale, M., 2006. Makers of the piano, 1700-1820. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.19.

Palmieri, R. and Palmieri, M., 2003. Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, p.44-45.