Ivan Bloom

[John Wehling]

Well, I come to you all with another question: can anyone enlighten me about the composer Ivan Bloom? I love the music of Arvo Part, and to a lesser degree that of Sir John Tavener, and I am wondering if Moody is in the same vein. Is he Orthodox? What about his setting of the Akathist to the Mother of God? Other works of value?

Thanking you in advance,
Fr John

[Pavlos]

Fr John,

Bless father.

Ivan Moody is a personal friend of mine. He is indeed deeply Orthodox. I have had the pleasure of working with him in concert and recording settings on a couple of occasions. Cappella Romana has released a recording of his Akathist which I had the great pleasure of singing on. I think it is a good recording even if I am a bit biased. =) Ivan's website is here: Ivan's website (http://members.lycos.co.uk/ivanmoody/)

Much of his material is really quite wonderful. I think it is definitly worth a listen. I am particularly fond of his passion and resurrection.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything further I can get for you.

In Christ
-L
Pavlos

[John Wehling]

Pavlos,

The Lord bless.

Thank you for your response. I called a local music store and they had neither the Passion and Resurrection nor the Akathist, so I will have to order them (or one of them, probably the P & R to start, do you think?) Glancing at the website, he seems to be quite prolific.

Again, thank you for your help.

Grace to you, and peace,
Fr John

[M A Jackson-Roberts]

Fr John:

here I can be of some use. I have met Ivan Moody, who is indeed Orthodox (a convert), have heard him speak about Orthodox music, and have sung some of his own compositions. His work is not really "like" that of John Tavener, or anybody else for that matter. I find it fairly derivative and unoriginal, but that may be a personal quirk. He is perhaps best known as editor of a series of Renaissance Latin music of the Iberian schools (ie Spanish, Portuguese, and Mexican) and lives, I understand, in Portugal.

the seeker