RIP Ivan Vandor

 

Hungarian born composer and teacher Ivan Vandor died in Venice, Italy on November 15. He was 88. Born Ivan Weisz in Pecs, Hungary on October 13, 1932 his family moved to Rome when Ivan was only 6. He began studying violin and then piano at the age of 8, and, from 1948 to 1954, was tenor sax in the group Roman New Orleans Jazz Band. He was later also member of the avant-garde groups Musica Elettronica Viva and Gruppo di Improvvisazione di Nuova Consonanza. In 1959 he graduated in Composition from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory and in 1962 he obtained Italian citizenship. He was also author of several books and essays. His compositions include one Euro-western “Django Kill” (1967) starring Tomas Milian.