Sam David Wamper
Sam David Wamper was born on January 24, 1983 in Helmond, the Netherlands. He studied jazz piano with Frank Giebels and classical piano with Avi Schönfeld at the Conservatory of Maastricht, after which he continued his studies at the Conservatory of Rotterdam (Codarts) where he studied composition and music theory. Wamper was taught by the composers Peter-Jan Wagemans, Robin de Raaff, Klaas de Vries and the late Luc Brewaeys.
Compositions
He composed various commissions, amongst others a short piano concerto for the Residentie Orchestra and three set pieces for the International Orlando Competition in 2015, 2017 and 2022. The piano trio he composed for Orlando was later recorded by the renowned Mosa Trio on their debut album “Portraits”. After his pianotrio “Portrait of Light” another portrait followed suit: in 2019 his composition “Portrait of Lilith” was recorded by Duo Mader/Papandreopoulos and released on their debut album “Lilith & Lulu”.
Characteristics
Wamper’s compositions have been performed in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Bozar Bruxelles, various venues in Europe, Australia and China. His compositions are characterised by fantastical storytelling, contemporary abstraction and dramatic expressionism, where the sounding result takes precedence over the musical concept. His language is recognisably modern, with an intriguing twist as he is inspired by composers of very diverse backgrounds, such as Frank Zappa, Giacomo Puccini, Alban Berg and Bill Evans. The absurdity and capriciousness of Zappa meet the dramatic lyricism of Puccini, whilst the colour and structure of Berg meet the impressionist and improvisational character of Evans.
Newsletter
Currently Wamper is working on his first opera and a commission for solo piano. If you’d like to stay informed, please subscribe to the newsletter here.
Compositions
- Portrait of Light – Mosa Trio
- Portrait of Light – Delta Piano Trio
- Fight – Matthijs van Wijhe
- Zing – Job Hubatka, Kimball Huigens
- Maledizione – Residentie Orkest, Ed Spanjaard, Matthijs van Wijhe
- 낙화 – Son Gaseul, Mario Molina
Arrangements
- Strange Meeting (Rudolf Escher) – Codarts Symphony Orchestra, Arie van Beek
- The Housatonic at Stockbridge (Charles Ives)
- I Loves You, Porgy (George Gershwin)
“Portraits” (2018)
Mosa Trio
Antarctica Records
Portrait of Light (2015)
The piano trio “Portrait of Light” can be interpreted as a musical portrait of the composer’s former beloved: Lucille (which translates to ‘light’). The indication ‘portrait’ is to be taken quite literally: “When writing the music I imagined her face, like a painter translating her face onto canvas. In the opening phrases you hear her curly hair…
A new album is expected in 2023.
“Lilith & Lulu” (2019)
Duo Mader/Papandreopoulos
7 Mountain Records
Portrait of Lilith (2018)
Lilith, Lilitu, Lili, Lilin, Lamia, Lulu. The sinister repetition of the letter ‘L’ has resounded through the centuries and accompanied Lilith in almost all her transformations. The beginning of Sam David Wamper’s “Portrait of Lilith” is a musical translation of this ominous linguistic alliteration. With the violently…
“t.b.a.” (2023)
Matthijs van Wijhe
Self Portrait (2022)
More information coming soon.
“Lilith & Lulu” (2019)
Duo Mader/Papandreopoulos
7 Mountain Records
Portrait of Lilith (2018)
Lilith, Lilitu, Lili, Lilin, Lamia, Lulu. The sinister repetition of the letter ‘L’ has resounded through the centuries and accompanied Lilith in almost all her transformations. The beginning of Sam David Wamper’s “Portrait of Lilith” is a musical translation of this ominous linguistic alliteration. With the violently…
“Portraits” (2018)
Mosa Trio
Antarctica Records
Portrait of Light (2015)
The piano trio “Portrait of Light” can be interpreted as a musical portrait of the composer’s former beloved: Lucille (which translates to ‘light’). The indication ‘portrait’ is to be taken quite literally: “When writing the music I imagined her face, like a painter translating her face onto canvas. In the opening phrases you hear her curly hair…
A new album is expected in 2023.
“t.b.a.” (2023)
Matthijs van Wijhe
Self Portrait (2022)
More information coming soon.
“Lilith & Lulu” (2019) 
Duo Mader/Papandreopoulos
7 Mountain Records
Portrait of Lilith (2018)
Lilith, Lilitu, Lili, Lilin, Lamia, Lulu. The sinister repetition of the letter ‘L’ has resounded through the centuries and accompanied Lilith in almost all her transformations. The beginning of Sam David Wamper’s “Portrait of Lilith” is a musical translation of this ominous linguistic alliteration. With the violently repeated note ‘La’ (A) Lilith appears again in the most unexpected way, as a Storm. Soon the wind seems to subdue and the listener can feel the first cool drops on his skin. This is only an omen of Lilith’s manifestation as rain. Saxophone and piano merge and create an unsettling drizzle-like texture. Through the rain the listener starts to feel the slithering of the piano’s low register. The disturbing sound of the snake becomes only more alarming when the saxophone joins as another Lilithian mutation, that of a bird (The Serpent And The Bird). In the last movement of the piece we see the Seductress engaged in an enticement and eventually lethal combat with her victim.
“This is a top duo that shows the listener the most profound nuances in the interpretation and atmosphere of the contemporary repertoire. William Bolcom’s demonic and Sam David Wamper’s seductive Lilith sound incredibly fascinating and daring. The silences on this CD are astonishing and the interpretations refined.”
– Rudolf Nammensma, Dagblad van het Noorden
“Portraits” (2015)
Mosa Trio
Antarctica Records
Portrait of Light (2015)
The piano trio “Portrait of Light” can be interpreted as a musical portrait of the composer’s former beloved: Lucille (which translates to ‘light’). The indication ‘portrait’ is to be taken quite literally: “When writing the music I imagined her face, like a painter translating her face onto canvas. In the opening phrases you hear her curly hair. A bit further on there is a Shostakovich-like dance which represents the sparkle in her eyes. The end depicts her mouth, which is embodied in conversing melodies: at first agitated, then full of tenderness, as the conversation between two loved ones can swiftly evolve into the intimacy of a kiss.
Reviews
“Het trio combineert bekend werk graag met nieuwe stukken, ook op hun nieuwe cd. Vooral in Portrait of Light van Sam David Wamper uit 2015 klateren de lijnen virtuoos over elkaar.”
– Biëlla Luttmer, De Volkskrant
“Die klanglichen Querschläger und Flüster-Effekte im Wamper-Stück, die irrsinnige Virtuosität im Zusammenspiel im Coppens-Trio lohnen sich zu hören. Zwischendurch klingt es in beiden Interpretationen, als würden sich die Streicher und das Klavier unterhalten wie zwei Verliebte. Da knistert und brodelt es, Spannung, die auch mit der Zeit nicht nachlässt. Die nächste Mosa-CD ist kaum zu erwarten.”
– Hannah Schmidt, niusic.de
As a pianist, a composer and a music theorist, Sam David Wamper is a frequently asked lecturer at various occasions and concerts.
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
He is a recurring lecturer with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, supported by the Vrienden van het Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest (Friends of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra). Moreover, in 2019 he was one of the teachers of the esteemed yearly Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Music Course.
Gergiev Festival
In 2018 he had the privilege of being the main lecturer at the 30th jubilee of the internationally renowned Gergiev Festival, introducing none other than the legendary Valery Gergiev, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mariinsky Orchestra.
New String Quartet for Loksias Quartet
In 2022 Sam David Wamper finished his string quartet “Portrait of Time” which was played at the Orlando Festival in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, by the Greek/Spanish Loksias Quartet under supervision of artistic director Henk Guittart.
Debut album Matthijs van Wijhe
In 2022 the pianist Matthijs van Wijhe commissioned a composition for piano solo, which is to be performed/recorded in 2023 for Van Wijhe’s debut album. This up-and-coming pianist has a real knack for contemporary music and his debut album will consist of only 20th and 21st-century works.
For this composition Wamper is inspired by the Persian poet, astronomer and mathematician Omar Khayyam (1048-1131). Khayyam’s “Rubaiyat” is taken as the point of departure for this solo piece.
New String Quartet for Loksias Quartet
In 2022 Sam David Wamper finished his string quartet “Portrait of Time” which was played at the Orlando Festival in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, by the Greek/Spanish Loksias Quartet under supervision of artistic director Henk Guittart.
Debut album Matthijs van Wijhe
In 2022 the pianist Matthijs van Wijhe commissioned a composition for piano solo, which is to be performed/recorded in 2023 for Van Wijhe’s debut album. This up-and-coming pianist has a real knack for contemporary music and his debut album will consist of only 20th and 21st-century works.
For this composition Wamper is inspired by the Persian poet, astronomer and mathematician Omar Khayyam (1048-1131). Khayyam’s “Rubaiyat” is taken as the point of departure for this solo piece.
Webdesign
Photography
- black and white pictures
- pictures Grote Zaal, De Doelen
- picture Matthijs van Wijhe
Manuel Gutierrez Rojas Photography
- pictures Jurriaansezaal, De Doelen