Josef Suk (composer)

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Josef Suk

Josef Suk (born January 4, 1874 in Křečovice near Prague , Austria-Hungary , † May 29, 1935 in Benešov near Prague) was a Czech composer , Antonín Dvořák's son-in-law and a well-known violinist .

Life

Josef Suk, photo taken around 1900

Suk began his oeuvre with chamber music and, in the somewhat lovely Dvořák tradition, with a four-movement serenade for strings op. 6, which is based on the model of the corresponding work by Dvořák. The symphony in E major, Op. 14, which is also still based on Dvořák, opens his orchestral work. The two early stage pieces of music, which he arranged as suites for concert use, are characterized by national romanticism. “Pohádka” op. 16, (“A fairy tale”), based on a play by the symbolist poet Julius Zeyer , brings for the first time the “death motif”, which developed so great in the Asrael symphony. The suite “Pod jabloní” op. 20 (“Under the apple tree”) is also based on a play by Julius Zeyer. The Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra in G minor op. 24, the “Fantastické Scherzo” op. 25 (“Fantastic Scherzo”) and the symphonic poem “Praga” op. 26 pave the way for Suk's maturity style.

The breakthrough to independent tonal language only came after the trauma of having lost his revered father-in-law Antonín Dvořák and his beloved wife Otylka within a year (1904/1905). He composed the five-movement symphony Asrael op. 27 , named after the Angel of Death, which was initially only intended as a requiem for Antonín Dvořák, but was expanded in the last two movements due to the death of his wife. A concise motif runs through the work, which at first seems cold and merciless, but at the conciliatory end it fades away in the distance in the style of a solemn chant . The Asrael symphony contains quotations from Dvořák's work, the second movement contains the basic motif of the requiem , and later the song of the hunter's man from Rusalka . Asrael is a remarkable work that is reminiscent of Gustav Mahler in terms of dimensions and severity of expression .

In a continuation of the tonal language obtained in Asrael , Suk then created Pohádka léta op. 29 ( A Summer Fairy Tale ), also in five movements. It is the light sister work of Asrael, here too the composer grieves. The spectrum ranges from the faltering heart rhythms of the beginning (from the piano piece “über Mutters Herz” from the cycle O matince op. 28) to images of nature, a garish Scherzo full of painful visions to the peaceful conclusion of a bell-ringing night. The instrumentation and the modern harmony give the work a luminous, sensory impression at the height of its time. In contrast to the drama of the “Asrael” symphony, its expressive content is characterized by a peculiar synthesis of feelings of happiness and sadness.

The creation of the next symphonic work, Zrání op. 34 (“the ripening”, actually “becoming ripe”) took an extraordinarily long period of time at five. This may be related to the degree of complexity in form and style achieved here, but also to the numerous concert tours that Suk took as second violinist of the Bohemian String Quartet (1891–1933) and to the privations of the First World War, which had broken out in the meantime . The three-quarters of an hour, one-movement symphonic poem is based on a poem by Antonín Sova , in which the maturation of nature is compared with the maturation of humans. Formally, it is a fusion of a slow introduction, a sonata movement, as well as adagio and joke characters with a crowning fugue as the center. The interrelationships between the individual topics are extremely complex; the topic is constantly subject to the smallest of transitions without, however, revealing the mood of an overarching calm. Here, too, the themes developed in “Asrael” play the role of musical vocabulary. The tonal luminosity appears to be increased again; in terms of harmony, it results, as in the previous 2nd String Quartet, Op. 31, from the melodious use of polytonal structures (two contrapuntal themes are harmonized differently, but in a meaningful way). In this way, Suk achieves a harmonious modernity that, in its very own way, is not inferior to the early Schönberg (who was an admirer of Suk's 2nd string quartet). The highly significant work, which is hardly ever on the orchestral repertoire outside of the Czech Republic, is worthy of the list of works that heralded the fulfillment and farewell of a cultural epoch around the time of the fall of the century, shortly before the First World War.

Memorial plaque on Suk's house in Trojická Street, Prague

After 1920, the fourth work of the symphonic tetralogy Epilog op. 37, a "symphonic piece for orchestra, large and small mixed choir, soprano, baritone and bass", was the subtitle. Originally the title was supposed to be “Harvest of Love”. The work is more inaccessible than the clear monumentality of Zrání in its tonality, which is obscured over long stretches, its alternation between text-based and purely instrumental music and the interwoven five-part structure . Texts from the Psalms of David, the first book of Moses and from Julius Zeyer's dramatic legend Pod jabloní (“Under the apple tree”) form the path of thought. The five parts are entitled: Steps - The Song of the Mothers - From Eternity to Eternity - Mystical amazement and unrest - The pilgrim and comforter.

Relationship with Antonín Dvořák

Several sources report that the avowed railway enthusiast Dvořák urged his then future son-in-law Suk to write down locomotive numbers at stations. Dvořák Suk is also said to have tested his knowledge of locomotives.

Works

Orchestral works

Symphonies

  • Symphony in E major op. 14 (1897–1899), 3rd movement arr. As: Bagatela (Bagatelle) for piano solo, without opus (1898)
  • Asrael - Symphony in C minor op.27 (In memory of Antonín Dvořák and his daughter, my wife Ottilie ), in 5 movements (1905/06)

Other orchestral works

  • Fantasia in D minor for string orchestra, without opus (1888)
  • Smuteční pochod (Funeral March) in C minor for string orchestra, without opus (1889, rev. 1934)
  • Dramatická ouvertura (Dramatic Overture) in A minor op.4 (1891/92)
  • Serenáda (Serenade) in E flat major for string orchestra op.6 (1892)
  • Pohádka zimního večera (Tale of a Winter Evening) - Overture after Shakespeare op.9 ( 1894, rev. 1926)
  • Ve stínu lípy (In the shade of the linden tree) - Symphonic poem (unfinished) (1896)
  • Pohádka (A Fairy Tale) - Suite op.16 (1899/1900), arr.from : Radúz a Mahulena (Radúz and Mahulena) - incidental music op.13 (1897/98)
  • Fantastické scherzo (Fantastic Scherzo) op.25 (1903)
  • Praga - Symphonic poem op.26 (1904)
  • Pohádka léta (A Summer Tale) - Symphonic poem op. 29 (1907–1909)
  • Meditace na staročeský chorál "Svatý Václave" (meditation on an old Czech chorale "St. Wenceslas") for string orchestra / string quartet op. 35 a (1914)
  • Zrání (The Ripe of Life) - Symphonic poem for female choir (without text) and orchestra op. 34 (1912–1917)
  • Legenda o mrtvých vítězích (Legend of the Dead Victors) - Piece in memory, op.35 b (1919/20)
  • V nový život (Into a New Life) - Sokol March op. 35 c (1919/20), arr. As the same work for piano 4 hands, without opus (1919). This work was awarded the silver medal at the 1932 Olympic art competition .
  • Pod Blaníkem (Under the Blaník) - March without opus (19 ??), Arr. by J. Kalas as the same work for piano solo, without opus (1932)

Concert pieces

  • Fantasy for violin and orchestra op.24 (1902/03)

Piano works

  • Sonata in C major, without opus (1883)
  • Overture, without opus (1884/85)
  • Jindřichohradecký cycle (Jindřichův Hradec-Suite), without opus (1886/87)
  • Polonaise, without opus (1886/87)
  • Unnamed piece in B flat major, without opus (1886/87)
  • Unnamed piece in G major, without opus (1886/87)
  • Fuga ( joint ) C minor without opus (1888)
  • Fuga (joint) C minor without opus (1890), Arr. from the same work for string quartet, without opus (1890)
  • Tři písně beze slov (Three songs without words), without opus (1891)
  • Fantasy Polonaise op.5 (1892)
  • Klavírní skladby ((Six) Piano Pieces) op.7 (1891-1893)
  • Capriccietto in G major, without opus (1893)
  • Humoreska , without opus (1894)
  • Nálady (Moods) - Five pieces op.10 (1895)
  • Lístek do památníku ( album sheet ), without opus (1895)
  • Klavírní skladby ((Eight) Piano Pieces) op.12 (1895/96)
  • Sonatina in G minor, Op. 13 (1897), rev. as: Suite in G major op. 21 (1900)
  • Vesnická serenáda (Village Serenade), without opus (1897)
  • Bagatela (Bagatelle), without opus (1898), arr. of 3rd movement from Symphony in E major for orchestra op. 14 (1897–1899)
  • Suita (Suite) in G major op.21 (1900), Rev. of Sonatine in G minor op.13 (1897)
  • Jaro (Spring) - Five pieces, op.22 a (1902)
  • Letní dojmy (Summer Impressions) - Three Pieces op.22 b (1902)
  • O matince (About the little mother) - Five pieces op.28 (1907)
  • Životem a snem (Experienced and Dreamed of Things ) - Ten Pieces op.30 (1909)
  • Psina španělská (Spanish joke), without opus (1909)
  • Ukolébavky ( Lullabies ) - Six Pieces op.33 (1910–1912)
  • V nový život (In a new life) - March for piano 4 hands, without opus (1919), arr. from the same work for orchestra op.35 c (1919/20)
  • O přátelství (On Friendship) op.36 (1920)
  • Pod Blaníkem (Unter dem Blaník) - March, without opus (1932), arr. By J. Kalas as an equal work for orchestra, without opus (19 ??)

Chamber music

String quartets

  • Fantasy in D minor for string quartet (and piano ad lib.), Without opus (1888)
  • String quartet in D minor, without opus (1888)
  • Balada (Ballade) in D minor for string quartet, without opus (1890)
  • Fuga (joint) C minor for string without opus (1890), Arr. from the same work for piano solo, without opus (1890)
  • String quartet in B flat major op.11 (1896), last movement rev. as an independent quartet movement for string quartet, without opus (1915)
  • String quartet in D flat major op.31, 1 movement (1911)
  • Meditace na staročeský chorál "Svatý Václave" (Meditation on the old Czech chorale "St. Wenceslas") for string quartet / string orchestra op. 35 a (1914)
  • Quartet movement, without opus (1915), revision of the last movement from the string quartet in B flat major, op.11 (1896)

Other chamber music

  • Polka in G major for solo violin , without opus (1882)
  • Fantasy in D minor for string quartet and piano (ad lib.), Without opus (1888)
  • Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 2 (1889, rev. 1890/91)
  • Balada (Ballade) in D minor for cello and piano op.3, no.1 (1890)
  • Balada (Ballade) in D minor for violin and piano, without opus (1890)
  • Serenade in A major for cello and piano op.3, no.2 (189?)
  • Piano quartet in A minor, Op. 1 (1891)
  • Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 8 (1893)
  • Melody for 2 violins, without opus (1893)
  • Čtyři skladby (Four pieces) for violin and piano op.17 (1900)
  • Elegy - Pod dojmem Zeyerova Vyšehradu (Under the impression of Zeyer's Vyšehrad) for violin, cello, string quartet, harmonium and harp op.23, arr.as elegy for piano trio op.23 (1902)
  • Bagatela (Bagatelle) - S Kyticí v Ruce (Carrying a Bouquet) for flute / violin and piano, without opus (1917)
  • Sousedská for 5 violins, double bass, cymbals, triangle, large and small drums, without opus (1935)

Songs

  • Hory, doly, samý květ (In full bloom over mountains and valleys) for voice and piano, without opus (1890, lost)
  • Noc byla krásná (The night was beautiful) for voice and piano, without opus (1891)
  • Ukolébavka (Lullaby) for child's voice and piano, without opus (1891)
  • Oh would you be mine for voice and piano, without opus (1892, incomplete)
  • Mé ženě (To my wife) for voice and piano, without opus (1902)
  • Dvě písně (Two songs) for voice and piano, without opus (1 ???)

Choral works

Works for choir a cappella (and instruments)

  • Křečovická mše (Mass from Krecovice) in B flat major for four-part mixed choir, strings and organ, without opus (1888/89, rev. 19 ??)
  • Nechte cizí, mluvte vlastní řečí ( speak your own language and not a foreign language) for four-part male choir a cappella, without opus (1896)
  • Deset zpěvů (Ten Chants) for three-part female choir and piano for four hands op.15 (1899)
  • Čtyři zpěvy (Four Chants) for four-part male choir a cappella op.18 (1900)
  • Tři zpěvy (Three Chants) for four-part mixed choir and piano ad lib. op. 19 (1900)
  • Mužské sbory (male choirs) for four-part male choir a cappella, op.32 (1911/12)
  • O Štedrém dni (Around Christmas Day) for two-part choir and violin, without opus (1924)
  • Hospodin jest muj pastýr (The Lord is my Shepherd) for a cappella choir, without opus (1 ???, incomplete)

Works for solos, choir and orchestra

  • Pod jabloní (Under the Apple Tree) - Suite in 5 pictures for alto, four-part mixed choir and orchestra, without opus (1911/12), arr. from the same incidental music op.20 (1900/01)
  • Epilogue - Symphonic work for soprano, baritone, bass, small mixed choir, large mixed choir and orchestra op. 37 (1920–1929, rev. 1929–1933)

Stage works

Stage music

  • Radúz a Mahulena (Radúz and Mahulena) - scenic melodrama in 4 acts for alto, tenor, speaker, four. mixed choir and orchestra op.13 (1897/98, rev. 1912), from it: Pohádka (A fairy tale) - Suite for orchestra op.16 (1899/1900)
  • Pod jabloní (Under the Apple Tree) - incidental music for alto, speaker, four-part mixed choir, organ and orchestra op. 20 (1900/01, rev. 1911 and 1915), from which the same suite for alto, mixed choir and orchestra, without opus (1911/12)

literature

  • J. Vojtěšková:  Suk Josef d. Ä .. In: Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 14, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2012–, ISBN 978-3-7001-7312-0 , p. 41.
  • Jiří Berkovec: Josef Suk. Život a dílo . Státní nakladatelství krásné literatury, hudby a umění, Prague 1956, (Czech), (German: Josef Suk . Supraphon, Prague et al. 1969).
  • Vladimír Karbusický : Mahler and Suk. In: Matthias Theodor Vogt (ed.): The Gustav Mahler Festival. Hamburg 1989 . Report on the International Gustav Mahler Congress. Bärenreiter, Kassel et al. 1991, ISBN 3-7618-1015-6 , pp. 313-332.
  • Jan Miroslav Květ: Josef Suk . Česká akademie věd a umění, Prague 1936, ( Seznam samostatně vydaných nekrologů ), (Czech).
  • Zdeněk Nouza, Miroslav Nový: Josef Suk - Tematický katalog skladeb = Josef Suk - Thematic catalog of the works . Editio Bärenreiter, Prague 2005, ISBN 80-86385-30-2 .

Web links

Commons : Josef Suk  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Suk, Josef
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Czech composer and violinist
DATE OF BIRTH January 4, 1874
PLACE OF BIRTH Křečovice
DATE OF DEATH May 29, 1935
Place of death Benešov near Prague