Ziv Eitan is a multifaceted artist whose work is considered groundbreaking. The combination of boundless talent and innovativeness has made him into an extraordinary musician. Eitan is a virtuoso as a percussion soloist, having gained phenomenal mastery of the marimba and percussion instruments. His captivating on-stage charisma can be attributed to his virtuosity, his mesmerizing playing and his first-rate technical ability to perform any style of music. Eitan has mastered more than 50 different kinds of percussion instruments. He is regarded as the ultimate percussionist artist among classical composers thanks to his unique performance capacities.
The singular musical language that Eitan has developed integrates a number of styles: classical music, world music and electronic music. He represents a new and original musical worldview in the "classical-artistic" sphere.
Ziv Eitan was born in Israel in 1970. He initially studied under Alon Bor, the principal percussionist of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, and continued his studies at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. After graduation, Eitan took additional courses at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studied under Prof. Bennett Liluff. He also studied under the best classical soloists in New York: Jim Price, Gordon Stout, Lee Howard Stevens, and William Marsh. During the same period, Eitan also learned to play Latin percussion instruments under Jerry Gerbel and a drum set under David Rich.
In 1994, while still engaged in his studies, Eitan began to appear at dance clubs in New York, combining percussion instruments and electronic music in his performances. Upon completion of his studies, he began to develop his own musical language, which integrates a number of musical styles: classical, electronic and world music.
Ziv Eitan has received numerous grants, including: financial support from the Israeli Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports for his novel concert "A Journey into the Rhythm" which he initiated, created and performed in 2002; grants from the Tel-Aviv Yehoshua Rabinowitz Foundation for the Arts for original music written with the classical composers Daniel Elshach and Tzach Drory in 2003, 2004 and 2006; scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (for 10 years).
Ziv Eitan toured twice as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic's Choir in Europe, and also did a concert tour in the Far East with his performance "A Journey into the Rhythm" (March 2005). He also appeared at a huge event marking Israel's Independence Day in Berlin (May 2006), performing "A Journey into the Rhythm." He often appears before children and teens on behalf of the Ministry of Education (under the cultural events allocation) and "Omanut La'am" ("Art for the Nation"). Currently, Ziv Eitan is also active in the contemporary dance scene, in addition to his classical concerts and large public performances. Israel's best composers write music especially for him due to his unusual performing technique. His shows are successful both in Israel and abroad and have won wide acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
Eitan is presently working on his third album. His first album, "A Journey into Rhythm", is being distributed by the German company PKS Group in Europe and North America. His second album, which came out at the beginning of 2007, is called "No Limits."
Ziv Eitan performed with "journey into rhythm" at the official opening event of the Israel Festival, which was televised live on Channel 2 (2002), following an earlier performance at the Israel Festival (1999). He has appeared at the Israel Prize ceremonies (2003, shown live on Channel 1, and at the Israeli Nobel Prize ceremony (2005). Having being chosen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a dynamic and innovative virtuoso, Eitan will go abroad during July and August of 2007 for concert tours and to take part in festivals in Japan, South Africa, the U.S., and Hong Kong. Further to his performance at the Turin Biennale, he will return to Italy once again for a concert tour in 2007-2008.
Leading Traits Describing Ziv Eitan as a Performer
Musical Innovativeness
Ziv Eitan views his music as the classical music of the 21st century, relying on a clear and well-defined concept of composing original, neo-Romantic, complex and demanding works. The works are written especially for him by both Israeli and international composers. Eitan's concerts are considered to be cutting-edge in terms of their artistic perception.
The Art of Performing
Ziv Eitan has exceptional performing ability in addition to his phenomenal mastery of the marimba and percussion instruments. He has captivating on-stage charisma thanks to his virtuosity, his mesmerizing playing and his superior technical ability to perform any style of music. Eitan's playing enthralls audiences as he undergoes extreme emotional metamorphoses. His performing style is totally emotional, causing audiences to completely identify with him. His playing as well as the works are characterized by a sharp transition from one emotion to another: pain, depth, sadness and joy, powerful energy, rhythmic insanity, psychedelics, romance and imagination. Ziv Eitan enjoys performing extreme emotional transformations while on stage, prompting audiences to embark upon a journey and a powerful emotional experience.
Communicativeness
Ziv Eitan's music crosses borders, nations and age groups, touching the hearts ad souls of audiences throughout the world whether in Western, Asian or Latin countries, whether adults or teens, whether culture buffs or the public at large. He achieves this without compromising the quality and originality of his music and without becoming avant-garde.
The Quality of the Music
All the works that Eitan performs (the musical material) are of the highest caliber, characterized by uncompromising quality and innovativeness. At the same time he manages to preserve their communicativeness and, most importantly, the art of performing.
