Josef Suk (1874-1935), along with Vítězslav Novák, is one of the most famous modern Czech composers. While Novák was more taken with impressionism, Suk bridged the gap between late romantic and classical modernism as one of the greatest lyric poets in Czech music. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all his wonderful music today.
From 1885 to 1892, Josef Suk studied violin at the Prague Conservatoire, and later in a masterclass for composition with Antonín Dvořák. For Suk, Dvořák was more than just a teacher, he was also his lifelong friend and mentor. In 1898 Suk married Dvořák’s daughter Otylka. Unfortunately, the family’s happiness did not last long, Dvořák died in 1904 and, tragically, his beloved Otylka one year later in 1905. These sad events had a fundamental influence on the second half of Suk’s work. The composer expressed his grief and loss in his symphony of mourning Asrael.
With three fellow students from the conservatoire, Josef Suk founded the chamber ensemble “The Czech Quartet”, which went down in music history as one of the most successful of its time. As second violinist, he performed in over 4,000 concerts all over the world. The quartet became world-class, and contributed a great deal to the standard of chamber music performance for generations to come.
From 1922, Suk was professor of the masterclass for composition at the Prague Conservatoire and later became director. His students included many important Czech composers, such as Jaroslav Ježek, Pavel Bořkovec and Bohuslav Martinů.
Although Suk’s work is not very extensive, with only 37 opuses, it is very unique. It combines the personal qualities of Josef Suk, human warmth, sensitivity and care, with Dvořák’s neo-romantic musical tradition, and his own melodic lyrics. His symphonic, piano, choral and chamber music works are held in particularly high esteem.
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 746201
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 746202
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 746200
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 746204
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 746203
aus der Suite op. 21
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015667
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 368341
Vergessene Kammermusik – wieder entdeckt
for: String orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695333
Vergessene Kammermusik – wieder entdeckt
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695329
Vergessene Kammermusik – wieder entdeckt
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695330
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 877975
for: 2 violins
Ensemble score
Item no.: 146518
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015687
Vergessene Kammermusik – wieder entdeckt
for: String orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695332
Vergessene Kammermusik – wieder entdeckt
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 695331
on the Old Czech Choral “St. Wenceslas”
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 558886
aus der szenischen Musik zu Märchen Raduz und Mahulena
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 473174
Muzik zum Marchen von Julius Zeyer
Szenisches Melodram in 4 Akten
for: Soloist (tenor), mixed choir (SATB), narrator, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 883727
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 104699
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015635
Allowed reprint
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1108961
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015648
Carrying a bouquet
for: Flute [violin], violin, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 880594
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score
Item no.: 347691
Allowed reprint 1920, Fr. Urbanek, Prag
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1108962
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 357375
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1108965
for: Piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 874811
for string orchestra / string quintet (also performable with string quartet) (1-1-1-1-1)
Allowed reprint 1914
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1015761
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 662904
for Violin, Violoncello, String quartet, Harmonium, Harp
for: Chamber ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276778
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 663345
tje composer's arrangement for two clarinets and stringed instruments
for: 2 clarinets, 3 violins, viola, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 133305
Kalmus Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 938729
Kalmus Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 941526
Simrock Original Edition
for: Flute [violin], violin, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 166862
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1015760
for: Mixed choir; piano ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 669891
Kalmus Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 490102
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1615872
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344484
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 162267
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1659326
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Study score
Item no.: 1344860
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 555756
Festival March for the Olympic Games 1932
Reprint
Repertoire Explorer
for: Orchestra; mixed choir ad lib.
Study score
Item no.: 1345031
Simrock Original Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 357564
Böhmischer Volkstanz für 5 Violinen, Kontrabass (Violoncello) und Schlagzeug (3 Spieler)
for: String orchestra, percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 146482