Josef Houdek

Josef Houdek was born on 8 March 1881 in Neuötting-Vtschelnitz (then Austro-Hungarian Empire, today called Nova Vcelnice in the Czech Republic). At the age of twelve he moved with his family to Vienna. In 1900 he entered the Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, where he studied double bass under Franz Simandl. Houdek remained at the conservatory until 1905.
During his years in Vienna he also became active in Czech musical and cultural circles. Between 1903 and 1906 he served as choirmaster of the expatriate Czech choral society Tovacovsky. In the 1905–1906 season he played with the Tonkünstler Orchestra in Vienna. In 1906 Houdek moved to Athens, where he taught double bass and piano at the Athens Conservatory until 1908. Among his students was the Greek bassist Giannis Tzoumanis. After leaving Greece, Houdek continued his orchestral career in Germany. From 1909 to 1913 he worked in Munich, where he was also deeply involved in Czech expatriate organizations and conducted concerts for the local Sokol movement. In 1913 he emigrated to the United States, first joining an orchestra in Cincinnati before settling permanently in Chicago in 1914. He performed in the Martin Ballmann Orchestra and later became a member of the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he remained for more than three decades. Houdek became a United States citizen in 1920. Alongside his orchestral career he devoted enormous energy to Czech musical organizations in America. Between 1915 and 1921 he served as choirmaster of the Czech Workers’ Choral Society "Lyra" in Chicago. He collaborated with the Association for the Advancement of Chamber Music in Chicago and with the Czech Central Singing Association. 
Besides his activities as performer and conductor, Houdek was also active as a teacher and composer. His works included the one-act opera “Babinsky,” as well as compositions for choir, violin, piano, and double bass.
On 10 May 1944 he died tragically in Riverside (Illinois, USA) after being struck by a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy train near his home. 

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the "Berceuse for double bass and piano" op.14 by Josef Houdek. The work was composed in 1906 while living in Baden near Vienna.