Under the Influence by Brian Blume

Brian Blume’s masterful piece Under the INfluence is an amalgamation of the musical influences he experienced while attending Indiana University. In his own words, “The musician I am today is very much a result of the influences of professors, students, performances, and the many diverse musical experience I had during that time.” Blume’s piece is a distillation of those influences and the mark they made on him as a young musician.

Under the INfluence calls for a complex and thoughtful instrumentation using an expansive array of implements and performance techniques. The musical material was influenced by everything from drum corps to some of Blume’s favorite contemporary composers. The result is a rich tapestry of textures, groove, and memorable melodic material.

Under the INfluence was commissioned by Kevin Bobo, John Tafoya and the Indiana University Percussion Ensemble. They premiered it at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in 2018.