Elegie op. 23

For the first anniversary of the death of Julius Zeyer, a celebration was organised in his memory from 31 May to 1 June 1902, which took place in the Queen Anne’s Pavilion and the Castle garden, and which developed into an important social event.

Suk composed his Elegy for the occasion – it was performed (inside the pavilion, on the temporary stage with scenery) as an introduction to the “living picture” When the Sun Set on Vysehrad: at the closing of Suk’s piece, the curtains lifted and the living picture appeared on the stage. Vysehrad is Zeyer’s famous cycle of five epic poems titled Libuse, The Green Victor, Vlasta, Ctirad and Lumír (figures from Czech mythology).

The Elegy was composed for solo violin and cello accompanied by strings, harmonium and harp, and it exists also in the composer’s arrangement for piano trio (H 7807).