Suk, Josef

1874-

 

Excellent violin-player and a composer; born in Kfecovic, Bohemia. In 1885 he entered Prague Conservatory, where he studied violin with Bennewitz, and composition with Dvorak, whose son-in-law he became. In 1896 he became a member of the Bohemian String Quartet, in which he plays second violin. This quartet is noted throughout Europe for its remarkable ensemble and for the yigorousness and force with which its members play. Suk has written some excellent compositions, notably a quartet and quintet for piano; an overture for Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, and another dramatic overture; a string quartet; two books of piano-pieces; an orchestral suite, entitled A Fairy Tale; a string serenade; a symphony in E, and many songs.