Not just daughter and wife
The four surviving piano pieces by Otilie Suková (1878-1905) have been published by Bärenreiter Prague in an exemplary edition.
Otilie Suková, the daughter of Antonín Dvořák and wife of Josef Suk, was musically gifted. She not only played the piano, but also wrote several compositions of her own, inspired by her surroundings. Suk described how these came about in a vivid and touching way in a letter: "Once, after my return from a trip, she confessed to me that she had also composed some short pieces for piano. At first she was embarrassed to play them for me, but when I finally got her to play them, she was delighted when I picked up a pencil the second time and wrote everything down as I had heard it from her."
Four piano pieces have been preserved in this way: Humoresque, Lullaby, Joschi on the little horse and The dear dad. Eva Prchalová has now published all four in an exemplary edition with Bärenreiter Prague. This is the first time that the latter has appeared in printed form. (The house in Prague has always distinguished itself with excellent editions!)
The pieces are skillfully set for the piano, moderately demanding and enchant with their beauty of sound, distinctive harmonies and a charm all of their own. Otilie Suková died far too early at the age of just 27, one year after her famous father. Josef Suk paid tribute to his deceased wife with the symphony Asrael an impressive musical monument.
Otilie Suková: Piano Pieces, Urtext edited by Eva Prchalová, BA 11557, € 8.95, Bärenreiter, Prague 2018
