Eugen Suchoň - Baladicka Suita Op.9 (Balladic Suite)

Ludovit Marcinger - Piano
00:00 Allegro Moderato, ma energico
05:12 Adagio
10:28 Allegro Moderato
16:06 Largo, con malinconia
Eugen Suchoň (1908-1993) was a Slovak Composer. In 1920, at the age of twelve, he started taking piano lessons at the Bratislava School of Music with the distinguished musician Frico Kafenda. Later, from 1927 to 1931, he continued his studies with the same teacher at the newly established Academy of Music in Bratislava.

He graduated from his composition classes with the Sonata in A-flat for Violin and Piano and a String Quartet (op. 2, 1931, revised 1939). His two-year studies at the Prague Conservatoire under Vítězslav Novák set the seal on the thorough training he had received from Kafenda. His works from this period are in a late Romantic idiom with elements of folk modality combined with chromaticism. From 1948 to 1960 Suchoň was professor and head of the Department of Music Education at the Teacher Training College in Bratislava. Works from this period include the Fantasies for Violin and Orchestra, Metamorphoses for piano, and the Symphonic Suite for grand orchestra.

From 1959 to 1974 he was professor of music theory at Bratislava University. His style changed as he incorporated serialism into his compositions. Harmonies emphasizing 2nds, 4ths and 7ths led to polymodality.