Jan Novák, the composer, was a Czech composer and pianist who combined influences from Classical music, Czech folklore, dodecaphony, and jazz in his works.
Composer Biography
Jan Novák studied with Aaron Copland at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood and later took private lessons with Bohuslav Martinů in New York, forming a lifelong friendship.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jan Novák developed a deep passion for Latin, viewing it as a noble, universal language that carried immortal values, and he continuously deepened his knowledge of it.
Historical Context
During World War II, Jan Novák was forced to interrupt his studies for two and a half years and was deported by the Nazis for forced labor in Germany.
Performer Biography
Marcin Kasprzyk, the pianist on this album, defended his doctoral thesis on Jan Novák's piano chamber music, receiving his Doctor of Arts title in 2020.
Historical Context
Due to the political and cultural situation under the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, Jan Novák decided to emigrate with his family in 1968, moving to Denmark, Italy, and Germany.
Cultural Impact
Jan Novák was posthumously awarded the State Prize by Czech president Václav Havel in 1996 and made an Honorary Citizen of Brno in 2006; a music school in Italy is also named after him.
