Josef Suk - Scherzo Fantastique, Op. 25 (1902-03)

Josef Suk (4 January 1874 - 29 May 1935) was a Czech composer and violinist. He studied under Antonín Dvořák, whose daughter he married.
Fantastické Scherzo, Op. 25 (1902-03)
1. Allegro vivace
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Charles Mackerras
Description by Joseph Stevenson [-]
From the evidence of the Fantastic Scherzo, Josef Suk would seem to have been destined to follow an artistic path much like that of his father-in-law and teacher, Antonín Dvorák. It is a 15-minute work, brilliantly scored for full Romantic orchestra. Its style is not that close to that of Dvorák. Suk's harmonic language is a little more modern, something like that of the pre-Impressionist French composers such as Chabrier and Fauré. Nor was Suk as interested in evoking Czech musical folklore in his music. The work is in the typical scherzo rhythm of dotted triple-time groups, rather close in spirit to Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. It has less of the grotesquerie, mostly being good-spirited. The closest thing to it in mood among Dvorák's works is the Carnival Overture, though in sound and technique it is more like the late Dvorák tone poems such as The Wood Dove. There are, indeed, times when the Suk work picks up something of the dark-edged mood of those Dvorák fantasies. But on the whole it is a beautifully scored, light-hearted and untroubled look at a fairy-like world.
It is also uncharacteristic of the direction Suk's work would take (and thus unlike any later works of Suk's the reader might know). The year after it was composed, Dvorák died, and soon after that Suk's own wife (Dvorák's daughter) died. The grief and the questions about death raised by these shattering losses transformed the scope and purpose of his music. But that was in the future; the listener of this work gets the last music Suk was to write untouched by the most tragic side of life.

[@Chouettechevêche172]

Musique si envoûtante et émotionnellement puissante ❤❤❤❤

[@coasterdragon155]

Severely underrated

[@zoogycampbell7617]

Hidden gem!

[@LegomanRonald514]

I have to play this piece as the cello and it was really hard but also impressive ❤

[@claradeusviolinus5080]

What a beautiful piece!

[@dacoconutnut9503]

And also well-crafted!!!

[@iamhandy-man]

@Bartje Bartmans Thanks for the wonderful description, it adds a wonderful dimension to this beautiful piece. I also appreciate you editing images of the score into the video. Nicely done!

[@erika6651]

We had a Top 40 Classical Music station here in Maine that would play this obscure gem from time to time. Thank you 106.9 (WBAQ I believe it was) for introducing me to this wonderful piece, and thank you Bartje for posting it! It brings back memories of that station which is sadly no longer on the air.

[@kawingng1600]

Come here just bez of 1 transcription for concert band... That's unspeakable for me to adore this piece.

[@arminsturm3337]

Wonderful piece and can hear it day and night

[@sylviepavy9999]

C'est Sublimement interprété quel bonheur a écouter j'adore. 🙏😘❤ A écouter en boucle ! !

[@digital-classics]

Wonderful piece, deserves wider recognition.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

Make that happen.

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

Another excellent addition to my collection

[@williamdeng1870]

A great piece of music!

[@MollyScruff]

So THIS is where the lovely theme for Midnight Diner (Japan) comes from... brilliant!!!

[@pianopolly]

Thank you for this wonderful piece. It is difficult not to hear Dvorák shining through at times (especially after reading the description), but it does not sound copied at all. I am now very curious to hear some of those later works.

[@bartjebartmans]

Suk is one of those rare composers who pretty much depicted his family life in music. His daily affairs, etc, etc, You can hear the birds sing here in his own garden, his children play etc. etc. In his piano pieces it is even more pronounced. His highs and lows are all there. Unique in the music literature. His approach is as such much different from Dvorak's, much more personal and intimate.

[@rwc123cheng4]

Deserves 1000 likes

[@mariellenoliveira1913]

Oh, so amazing! It inspires me sooo much, thank you! Thank you so much!

[@user-pk2et8sk1p]

absolute banger

[@fredericchopin7538]

Wonderful!

[@helenamarie4337]

absolutely beautiful!

[@zaphbmail]

Čirá nádhera, ze Sukova šťastného období

[@ronc1772]

FLAWLESS

[@Texasdav1]

Love it...

[@willcwhite]

Wow!!

[@ValzainLumivix]

Cool

[@vangel1443]

Have you notice a certain similarity with the Marvel Theme of the movies? I guess it is not enough for a copyright claim ; )

[@reindeergirl]

omg so true! now that you say it I can totally hear it :D

[@raymansell8453]

Love this piece, and I knew it sounded familiar... it turns out we heard it played locally last year at Bard College in New York, albeit much more slowly! Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJW3g4d_lJ2nhbM

[@Ninjasticks]

oof @1:25 going into rehearsal 8....

[@Wherrimy]

The main theme is Final Fantasy-esque to my ear

[@Eorzat]

I think it sounds more similar to Joe Hisaishi's style than Nobuo Uematsu's.

[@theamazingme4454]

6:16

[@kenharrington2204]

Dang thats some tough stuff LOL

[@martinsaroch3512]

It is a wonderful piece, but I would cancel the repetitions