Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

August 5, 1914

Death

:

1986

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Stjepan Sulek was a Croatian composer and conductor who was born on October 29, 1914, in Zagreb, Croatia. He was the son of a prominent Croatian composer and conductor, Franjo Sulek, who was the founder of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. Stjepan Sulek grew up in a musical family and began his musical education at a young age. Sulek studied composition and conducting at the Zagreb Academy of Music, where he was a student of the renowned Croatian composer and conductor, Josip Štolcer-Slavenski. He graduated from the academy in 1938 and went on to study in Vienna and Paris. In Paris, he studied with the famous French composer and conductor, Nadia Boulanger. Sulek's early compositions were influenced by the music of his father and other Croatian composers, as well as by the music of the French Impressionists. His early works include a Piano Sonata, a String Quartet, and a Suite for Orchestra. These works show Sulek's interest in exploring new harmonic and melodic ideas, as well as his interest in incorporating folk music elements into his compositions. During World War II, Sulek was active in the Croatian resistance movement and was imprisoned by the Nazis. After the war, he returned to Zagreb and became a professor of composition and conducting at the Zagreb Academy of Music. He also served as the conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra from 1952 to 1956. Sulek's compositions from the 1950s and 1960s show his interest in exploring new techniques and sounds. He was particularly interested in the use of electronic music and wrote several works for tape and live instruments. His works from this period include the Symphony No. 2, the Concerto for Orchestra, and the String Quartet No. 2. In the 1970s, Sulek's music became more tonal and accessible. He wrote several works for solo instruments and chamber ensembles, including the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, the Sonata for Viola and Piano, and the Sonata for Flute and Piano. These works show Sulek's interest in exploring the expressive possibilities of individual instruments. Sulek's most famous work is the Sonata for Trombone and Piano, which he wrote in 1979. The piece has become a staple of the trombone repertoire and is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding works for the instrument. The Sonata for Trombone and Piano is a virtuosic work that showcases the full range and expressive capabilities of the trombone. Sulek continued to compose and conduct throughout his life. He was awarded numerous honors and awards for his contributions to Croatian music, including the Order of Danica Hrvatska and the Vladimir Nazor Award. He died on March 23, 1986, in Zagreb, Croatia. In conclusion, Stjepan Sulek was a prominent Croatian composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the development of Croatian music. His compositions show his interest in exploring new techniques and sounds, as well as his interest in incorporating folk music elements into his works. His most famous work, the Sonata for Trombone and Piano, has become a staple of the trombone repertoire and is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding works for the instrument. Sulek's legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and composers around the world.

More....