Suchoñ, Eugen
Suchoñ, Eugen
Suchoñ, Eugen, significant Slovak composer and pedagogue; b. Pezinok, Sept. 25, 1908; d. Bratislava, Aug. 5, 1993. He studied piano and composition with Kafenda at the Bratislava School of Music (1920-28), then took a course in advanced composition with V. Novak at the Master School of the Prague Cons. (1931-33). He taught composition at the Bratislava Academy of Music (1933-48) and music education at the Univ. of Bratislava (1949-60); was a prof, of theory there from 1959 to 1974; in 1971 he was appointed prof, at the Coll. of Music and Dramatic Art in Bratislava. In 1958 he was named National Artist of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. He was one of the creators of the modern Slovak style of composition, based on authentic folk motifs and couched in appropriately congenial harmonies.
Works
dramatic: Opera: Krútñava (The Whirlpool; 1941-49; Bratislava, Dec. 10, 1949); Svätopluk (1952-59; Bratislava, March 10, 1960). ORCH.: Fantasy and Burlesque for Violin and Orch. (originally a Burlesque, 1933; the Fantasy was added in 1948); Bailadle Suite for Orch. or Piano (1935); Metamorphoses, symphonic variations (1951-52); 6 Pieces for String Ensemble or String Quartet (1955-63); Sinfonietta rustica (1956); Rhapsodic Suite for Piano and Orch. (1965); Kaleidoscope, 6 cycles for Strings, Percussion, and Piano (1967-68); Symphonic Fantasy on B-A-C-H for Organ, Strings, and Percussion (1971); Clarinet Concertino (1975); Prielom Symphony (1976). CHAMBER: Violin Sonata (1930); String Quartet (1931; rev. 1939); Serenade for Wind Quintet (1931); Piano Quartet (1932-33); Violin Sonatina (1937); Poème macabre for Violin and Piano (1963); piano pieces, including a Toccata (1973). VOCAL: Nox et solitudo for Soprano, and Small Orch. or Piano (1933); Carpathian Psalm, cantata (1937-38); Ad astra, 5 songs for Soprano and Small Orch. (1961); Contemplations for Narrator and Piano (1964).
Bibliography
E. Zavarsky, E. S.(Bratislava, 1955); J. Kresánek, Národny umelec E. S.(National Artist E. S.; Bratislava, 1961).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire