Ion Ivanovici (alternatively: Jovan Ivanović, Iosif Ivanovici, Josef Ivanovich) (1845 – 28 September [O.S. 16 September] 1902) was a Romanian military band leader and composer of Banat Serbian origin, best remembered today for his waltz Waves of the Danube.
Ivanovici was born in Timișoara, Austrian Empire. His interest in music began after he learned to play a flute given to him when he was a child. Later, he enrolled in the 6th Army Regiment, where he also learned to play the clarinet. His talent for music soon led him to become among the best musicians in the regiment, and he continued to study with Emil Lehr, one of the most prominent musicians of the latter half of the nineteenth century. Ivanovici later became a bandmaster, and toured Romania. In 1900, he was appointed the Inspector of Military Music, a position that he held until his death next year.
Although today Ivanovici is chiefly remembered for his waltz Waves of the Danube (Donauwellen in German, Flots du Danube, in French), in his lifetime he composed over 350 dances, and his works were published by over sixty publishing houses throughout the world. In 1889, Ivanovici won the coveted march prize to mark the World Exhibition in Paris, out of 116 entries. He died in Bucharest.
His great-grandson Andrei Ivanovitch is a successful international classical pianist.
Souvenir Moskau (Souvenir from Moscow) WaltzErzherzog Carl Ludwig March, Op. 129La SerenadeThe Daughter of the Boatman, or Schiffers Tochterlein (La Fille du Marin)Seufzer Waltz (Sigh Waltz)Sinaia WaltzSzerenade Zigeuneren (Gypsy Serenade)Carmen Sylva Waltz from 1892Mariana PolkaRomania's Heart Waltz, Op. 51Incognito WaltzAbschied von Focșani March (Farewell to Focsani March)Vision de l'Orient Waltz (Vision of the East), Op. 147Meteor WaltzIm Mondenglanz Waltz (Moonglow Waltz), Op. 122Magic of the Mountains WaltzLiebes Klange Polka (Love of Music Polka)Storm GaloppWild Flowers WaltzAbendtraume Polka-Mazurka (Evening Dream Polka-Mazurka)Agatha WaltzDer Liebesbote Waltz (Messenger of Love Waltz), Op. 136Easy, like a Dream, also known as Legere, comme un reve in French and Leicht, wie der Traum in GermanPoker Polka, Op. 123Am Hofe der Czarin Waltz (In the Courts of the Princess Waltz), Op. 124Die Ballkönigin Waltz (King of the Ball Waltz), Op. 127Goldene Stunden Waltz (Golden Hours Waltz), Op. 128 from 1893Céline Polka-Mazurka, Op. 130Natalia Waltz, Op. 134Beim Pfanderspiel Polka, Op. 137Bluthenzauber Waltz, Op. 149Lieb' um Liebe Waltz (Love for Love Waltz), Op. 155Alina WaltzAmalia WaltzLife in CyprusSouvenir de Brăila QuadrilleAurel WaltzCleopatra WaltzElena Polka-MazurkaFarmecul PeleșuluiFata pescaruluiFrumoasa româncă WaltzFrumoșii ochi albaștri Song (The Beautiful Blue Eyes)Hora micilor dorobanțiHerzliebchen WaltzKalinderu MarchLa balul curții Mazurka (The Mazurka of the Court's Ball)Luceafărul Waltz ("Luceafăr" is the popular name of the Venus star in Romanian)Military MarchMarșul CarolL'Odalisque Polka-MazurkaPe Dunăre Mazurka (On the Danube Mazurka)Plăcerea balului Mazurka (The Pleasure of the Ball Mazurka)Porumbeii albi (The White Doves)Die Konigin des Morgens or The Queen of the MorningRosina Polka from 1902Sârba moților ("Sârba" is a traditional dance, "moți" are peasants of Maramureș region)Suvenire QuadrilleMaus Polka or Mouse PolkaTatiana WaltzRoses from the Orient WaltzViața la București Waltz (Life in Bucharest Waltz)Visuri de aur Waltz (Golden Dreams Waltz)Zâna Dunării (The Fairy of The Danube)Anniversary WaltzBavarian LändlerKaiserreise or Voyage Imperial MarchLa Bella Roumaine Waltz from 1901Danube Waves