The music of Samuel William Novak casts traditional musical principles in a 21st century vernacular, applying lyrical melody, colorful harmony, textural ingenuity, timbral intrigue, and formal clarity in an idiom that embraces both free chromaticism and neotonality. Samuel's primary goal as a composer is "to give back the irreplaceable spiritual, emotional, and intellectual nourishment my favorite music gives me." Samuel began composing at age 17 and his earliest pieces were songs for voice and guitar. In May 2019 he graduated with a BFA in Music Composition & Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he studied with Amanda Schoofs, Kevin Schlei, Jon Welstead, Jonathan Monhardt, and William Heinrichs.
Samuel is one of four winners of Zeitgeist's 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Samuel's winning composition, Two Self-portraits, will be performed by Zeitgeist at their annual Playing it Close to Home concert, March 6-8 at Studio Z.
Two Self-portraits by Samuel William Novak features two starkly contrasting movements. The first movement begins with material from a piano study Samuel composed in 2016, which is then developed as the ensemble enters and joins the piano. The second movement’s pensive opening phrase is transformed into a morose, uglified reflection. This transformation is explored through the lens of volatility and explosion across moments of high intensity and others bordering silence, where even the softest sounds bear tremendous gravity.
Samuel is one of four winners of Zeitgeist's 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Samuel's winning composition, Two Self-portraits, will be performed by Zeitgeist at their annual Playing it Close to Home concert, March 6-8 at Studio Z.
Two Self-portraits by Samuel William Novak features two starkly contrasting movements. The first movement begins with material from a piano study Samuel composed in 2016, which is then developed as the ensemble enters and joins the piano. The second movement’s pensive opening phrase is transformed into a morose, uglified reflection. This transformation is explored through the lens of volatility and explosion across moments of high intensity and others bordering silence, where even the softest sounds bear tremendous gravity.
Playing it Close to Home
March 6-7, 7:30 p.m. • March 8, 2 p.m.
Studio Z: 275 East Fourth Street, Suite 200, St. Paul
$15 / $10 students & seniors
Tickets/Info
With winning songs from the 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest plus music by local composer Randy Bauer, Zeitgeist’s Playing it Close to Home concert celebrates the wealth of musical creativity found right here in our own backyard. The program includes music by Eric Stokes Song Contest winners Katie Condon, Kirsten Hanninen, Samuel William Novak and Iris Hu, plus the world premiere of Holding Patterns, a new multi-movement work composed for Zeitgeist by Randy Bauer.
Studio Z: 275 East Fourth Street, Suite 200, St. Paul
$15 / $10 students & seniors
Tickets/Info
With winning songs from the 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest plus music by local composer Randy Bauer, Zeitgeist’s Playing it Close to Home concert celebrates the wealth of musical creativity found right here in our own backyard. The program includes music by Eric Stokes Song Contest winners Katie Condon, Kirsten Hanninen, Samuel William Novak and Iris Hu, plus the world premiere of Holding Patterns, a new multi-movement work composed for Zeitgeist by Randy Bauer.
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