Editing Josef Suk (composer) (section)

==Biography==

From a young age, Josef Suk (born in [[Křečovice]], [[Bohemia]]) was deeply involved and well trained in music. He learned organ, violin, and piano from his father, Josef Suk Sr., and was trained further in violin by the Czech violinist [[Antonín Bennewitz]]. His theory studies were conducted with several other composers including [[Josef Bohuslav Foerster]], {{ill|Karel Knittl|cs}}, and {{ill|Karel Stecker|cs}}. He later focused his writing on chamber works under the teachings of [[Hanuš Wihan]].<ref>Tyrell, John. [http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/27094 "Suk, Josef."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104123447/https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/display/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027094 |date=4 January 2024}} In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Page 1, date accessed: 25 September 2012.</ref> Despite extensive musical training, his musical skill was often said to be largely inherited.<ref>Helfert, Vladimir. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4203158 "Two Losses to Czech Music: Josef Suk and Otakar Ostrčil."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128085048/http://www.jstor.org/stable/4203158 |date=28 January 2016}} ''The Slavonic and East European Review'', Vol. 14, No. 42 (April 1936). Page 639, JSTOR. Date accessed: 30 September 2012.</ref> Though he continued his lessons with Wihan another year after the completion of his schooling, Suk's greatest inspiration came from another of his teachers, Czech composer [[Antonín Dvořák]].<ref name="Grove1">Tyrell, Grove. Page 1</ref>

Known as one of Dvořák's favorite pupils, Suk also became personally close to his mentor.<ref name="Novak, Non-Obstinate. 86">Novak, "Non-Obstinate." Page 86</ref> Underlying this was Dvořák's respect for Suk, reflected in Suk's 1898 marriage to Dvořák's daughter, Otilie, marking some of the happiest times in the composer's life and music.<ref>Helfer, "Losses." Page 640</ref> However, the last portion of Suk's life was punctuated with tragedy.<ref>Novak, "Non-Obstinate." Page 87</ref> Over the span of 14 months around 1905, not only did Suk's mentor Dvořák die, but so did Otilie. These events inspired Suk's ''[[Asrael Symphony]]''.

[[File:Josef Suk sitting028.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Josef Suk]]
{{MedalTableTop | name = no | medals =
{{MedalSport | [[Art competitions at the Summer Olympics|Art competitions]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{TCH}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1932 Summer Olympics|1932 Los Angeles]] | [[Art competitions at the 1932 Summer Olympics|Music]] }}
}}

Owing to a shared heritage—and the coincidence of their dying within a few months of one another—Suk has been closely compared, in works and style, to fellow Czech composer [[Otakar Ostrčil]].<ref>Helfert, "Losses." Page 649</ref> Suk, alongside [[Vitezslav Novak]] and [[Otakar Ostrčil|Ostrčil]], is considered one of the leading composers in Czech Modernism, with much shared influence among the three coming in turn from Dvořák.<ref>Helfert, Page "Losses." 641</ref> Eminent German figures such as composer [[Johannes Brahms]] and critic [[Eduard Hanslick]] recognized Suk's work during his time with the Czech Quartet.<ref name="Grove1" /> Over time, well known Austrian composers such as [[Gustav Mahler]] and [[Alban Berg]] also began to take notice of Suk and his work.<ref name="Novak, Non-Obstinate. 86"/>

Although he wrote mostly instrumental music, Suk occasionally branched out into other genres. Orchestral music was his strong suit, notably the [[Serenade for Strings (Suk)|Serenade for Strings]], Op. 6 (1892).<ref name="Grove1" /> His time with the [[Czech Quartet]], though performing successful concerts until his retirement,<ref name="Grove1" /> was not always met with public approval. Several anti-Dvořák campaigns came into prominence; criticism not only being directed at the quartet, but towards Suk specifically. The leftist critic [[Zdeněk Nejedlý]] accused the Czech Quartet of inappropriately playing concerts in the Czech lands during World War I. While these attacks diminished Suk's spirits, they did not hinder his work.<ref>Ed. Jana Vojtěšková. "Josef Suk – dopisy o životě hudebním i lidském." (''tr. "Josef Suk – letters about musical and human life"'') 2005. Prague : Bärenreiter Page 1.</ref>