Video1: Classic accordion and painting
Video 2: “J.S. Bach. Sheep May Safely Graze. BWV 208”. Ivan Filipchyk

Accordionist/pianist Ivan Filipchyk presented a program including both J.S. Bach’s and his own original piano compositions on April 15, 2018  in Brooklyn at the South Oxford Space. Ivan’s performance was sensitive, displaying a virtuosic and accurate technique on both instruments. He offered interesting and enlightening comments before each selection and displayed an emotional and dynamically diverse expression in his music. The audience was mesmerized by the feelings conveyed in the music. Ivan, an accomplished musician, spoke sensitively and modestly from the heart and his music conveys these feelings. He received a well deserved standing ovation at the conclusion of the program. 

The program included: 
1. J. S. Bach. “Sheep May Safely Graze” from the “Hunting” cantata
2. J. S. Bach. “Come, Sweet Death” from the book of sacred songs and areas
3. J. S. Bach. “Three Chorale Preludes” (BWV 639, 727, 745)
4. J. Pachelbel. “Chaccone in F Minor”
5. I. Filipchyk. “Prelude and Fugue for Piano”
6. I. Filipchyk. “Three Musical Moments for Piano”
7. I. Filipchyk. “Romantic Tryptic for Piano”

Ivan Filipchyk (born 1991), is a New York-based artist and musician. He graduated from Russian Gnesiny Academy of music in Moscow with a Master’s degree in music. He acquired his music foundation in Belarus and Russia, countries with rich musical history, traditions and well-established education in music and arts. As a musician (accordion, piano) he takes part in various competitions and gives recitals performing (as a soloist and participant of an ensemble) on stages of some European countries, Russia, Japan, USA and Canada.

Ivan commented on his compositional style: “I don’t think I can say much about my pieces… I might be delusional about it but I’d like to think that I write music (I want to, but I can’t judge if I’m in any way successful) that doesn’t need a story following it. I want it to be clear and simple but expressive. That’s why none of my pieces so far have any program titles (except for very general titles, indicating the genre or form, like “prelude and fugue”)… It might change in the future if I keep composing, but that’s how I feel now.

The “musical language” I have is quite traditional (tonal). And I’m well aware that, given the limitations of tonality, my music might remind of the music already existing, written before, and would be probably considered by many unoriginal or outdated. But, as one my good friend often says: “a creative person should live “from the inside out”. I guess that’s what I have in me now, so I feel like going with it… But it might change.

Writing all this also reminded me of something T. S. Eliot wrote in his Four Quarters:”And what is there to conquer by strength and submission, has already been discovered once or twice, or several times, by men whom one cannot hope to emulate…but there’s no competition…for us, there’s only the trying. The rest is not our business.”

I highly recommend that you attend his next concert which will be announced in future publications.

For further information: Ivan Filipchyk, Mobile: 917.443.2190
Email: ivanfilipchyk91@gmail.com