STECKER, KAREL (1861-1918)

He graduated from a secondary school in Mlada Boleslav. He studied at the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague. After two years he moved to the Faculty of Philosophy, where he had been a pupil of Joseph Durdík and Otakar Hostinského. Simultaneously, he studied at the Organ School, graduating in 1882 state exams.

 

In 1885 he became a teacher at the organ school of practical subjects and play the organ. In addition, he served as organist and choirmaster at the Church of St. Ursula and as a singing teacher at a girls' school order of the Ursulines. In 1888 he was appointed as a university lecturer. A year later they merged with Varhanická school Prague Conservatory and Stecker became a professor at the University for song, music history and organ playing.

 

Stecker's first public appearances, such as performing artist, and they were favorably received by critics. In particular, they were highly valued for its tracks tempo. However, his greatest successes were achieved as a music theorist, critic, writer and teacher. He educated a whole generation of Czech composers and performers. His disciples were, for example, Louis Čelanský, Otakar Sheen, Vaclav Novotny Judah, Hanus Svoboda, Fran Lhotka, Jaroslav Křička, Josef Suk (Senior), Emil Axman and many others. His general history of music is the first Czech scientifically sound work in this field.

 

Further he published a large number of critical studies, and occasional biographical articles. He was also the author and editor of musical passwords in the Otto educational vocabulary.