I recently completed a new composition entitled Spur. It is scored for solo snare drum with audio tape accompaniment, and was written with Jacques Delecluse in mind. His snare drum etudes are some of my favorite pieces ever written. They are so thoughtful and nuanced; I wanted to compose a piece through a similar lens while simultaneously blending my own compositional language.

The piece was commissioned by a consortium led by Korry Friend, who recently released a beautiful video performance of the piece (see below). Sheet music for Spur will be available in November, 2016 to correspond with PASIC. A big thank you to Korry and the consortium for bringing this piece to life!

I was recently a guest on the @ Percussion podcast, hosted by Casey Cangelosi, Laurel Black, Megan Arns, and Benjamin Charles. It was a pleasure and honor to be on with these great people / percussionists. If you’re interested in hearing us chat about composing, my band, music publishing, Game of Thrones and more, check it out here:

PASIC 2015 was incredible. Our community is filled with amazing people and musicians. It was inspiring and rejuvenating.

I was fortunate that two of my new percussion ensemble pieces were premiered this year; Shared Space and Almaty. These pieces are now available if you’d like to program them on a concert. Thank you to Matt Ehlers and McCallum High School Percussion Ensemble, as well as Michael Burritt and the International All-Star Percussion Ensemble for such beautiful performances of these works.

I also recited poetry for the first time! That was fun. And scary. Here’s the poem I read for my piece Almaty:

I found a place that appreciates music,
for what it is, not what it appears to be, or seems to be.

I found a place where art prevails over money, 
where art prevails over subscribers and followers.

I found a place that is cold in temperature, but warm in humanity,
where people love to be enlightened.

I found a place where people dress like hipsters, and hug like parents.

I found a place that feels pure.

Luis Rivera and Justin Alexander’s duo Novus Percutere recently released Symmetry | Reflection, a new album that includes a wonderful recording of my piece, Hold Fast. They led a consortium of over 28 percussionists and colleges around the U.S. to have me compose a duo for vibraphone and drum set. Take a listen:

Their album is GREAT and is currently available free of charge! Simply contact Luis Rivera at http://www.luisriverapercussion.com/contact.html and request a copy. Sheet music is now available as well.

Thank you Luis and Justin for such a wonderful album. It’s a great addition to the percussion world and I so appreciate you bringing my music to life! Congrats guys.

-Ivan

I recently released This Too Shall Pass…, my first composition for solo vibraphone. I wrote this piece for someone who was going through difficult times, and hope it reaches anyone feeling the same way. 

The piece is part of a three movement suite for percussion soloist called Crossed Wires, which was commissioned by a consortium lead by percussionist Phillip O’Banion.

Sheet music for This Too Shall Pass… is available here. Check out Phillip O’Banion’s wonderful video performance below.