ian james erickson
composer | craftsman | drummer
works
The Ground: A Visual Sonic Poem by Odd Savvy - drum set, electronics, pump organ, kolvorgan, invented instruments - 50:00 live accompaniment
fences and the bridge between - percussion quartet - 30:00+
\textures/ [listen] - drum set, keyboards, electronics, kolvorgan - 29:00 - made possible through the Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency
ïv - 2 viola, cello, bass - 3:30
improvisations - drum set, piano, and electronics - 9:00
untitled #13 - tuned glass bottles - 8:00
t ö l u r [listen] - piano, drum set, mixed electronics - 20:00
qdbp - string quartet, drum set, piano - 11:00+
-velte- - 3 soprano, 3 alto, 3 tenor, 3 bass - 7:45
f i e l d - chamber orchestra - 8:10
water dance [listen] - keyboards, drum set, percussion - 8:00 - commissioned by Azaria R. Baggett for Missouri State University
ygdræl - 4 percussionists, 4 cellos, piano - 9:30
an interchangeable collection for string quartet [listen] - string quartet - 33:00
elsewhere - soprano, 2 alto, tenor, piano, bass, drum set, celesta - 10:30
…ooOlso… - orchestra + optional choir - 25:00
Ͼgk - 3 viola, 3 cello, 2 double bass, piano, small pump organ - 23:30
ełhń - 2 violas, cello, bass, piano - 6:50
æth - string quartet - 3:30
waiting for… - orchestra - 22:00
hvild - piano, bass, drum set - 5:30
three sketches for piano - piano - 10:00
untitled #2 - 3 violin, 3 viola, 3 cello, 3 bass - 1:30+
untitled #1 - 2 viola, 2 cello, bass, piano - 1:50
.(orǵ). - organ - 8:00
two [listen] - piano, violin - 2:10
lágt [listen] - 3 trombones, bass trombone - 5:30
friðsælum [listen] - piano, bass, drum set - 7:11
cognition [listen] - piano, bass, drum set - 8:30
ten sketches for piano [listen] - piano - 22:00
einveru - string orchestra - 13:45
ivan - 2 violin, viola, 2 cello, bass, celesta, piano - 3:33
untitled #4 - mixed electronics - 1:25
untitled #0 - piano and e-bows - 10:30
Ian Erickson is a composer, musician, and craftsman based in Berkeley, California.
As a composer Ian has worked with JACK Quartet for their Studio Reading sessions, Sirius Quartet, Odd Savvy, and PARMA Recordings. In 2020 he was selected for the USF International New Music Consortium, and in 2021 released his first solo album, t ö l u r, consisting of works written for piano, drum set, and mixed electronics. In 2024 he will perform for the Sirius Quartet’s Progressive Chamber Music Festival in New York City.
A recipient of a 2023 Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency, Ian designed and built an original instrument called a kolvorgan. The residency culminated in writing and recording an album titled \textures/. The album was released in 2024 and is comprised of solo works performed on drum set, keyboard, electronics, and his kolvorgan.
In the Bay Area Ian works as a dance accompanist for The University of California Berkeley, shop assistant at Hare and Arrow Arts, and as a regular studio assistant for Paul Dresher.
Originally from southwest Missouri, he is a graduate of Missouri State University, and holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Composition and Jazz Studies with an emphasis in drum set performance. Ian has also obtained formal instruction from the Port Townsend School of Woodworking.