Menachem Avidom (; January 6, 1908 – August 5, 1995) was an Israeli composer. His Hebrew surname is the combination of the names of his daughters Daniella and Miriam (Avi - the father of; D - for Daniella; O - and; M - for Miriam).
Biography Avidom was born Mendel Mahler-Kalkstein in Stanislaviv, Austria-Hungary on January 6, 1908. This put him in Poland after World War I. He emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1925 and, soon after, went to study at the American University of Beirut (from 1926 to 1928). After further studies at the Paris Conservatory (from 1928 to 1931) with Henri Rabaud, he moved to Tel Aviv, where he taught music theory. From 1945 through 1952 he served as general secretary of the Israeli Philharmonic. In 1955 he was named director of the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in Israel (ACUM); a post he remained in for twenty five years. He was also chair of the Israel Composer's League from 1958 through 1971.
He died in Tel Aviv, Israel, on August 5, 1995.
Awards In 1961, Avidom was awarded the Israel Prize for music, in recognition of his opera Alexandra ha'Hashmonait.
Works Vocal In Every Generation, opera, 1955 Alexandra ha'Hashmonait, opera, 1961 The Farewell, opera, 1971 The First Sin, opera, 1980 Me'Arat Yodfat, opera 4 other operas Kantatat t'hilim, cantata, 1955 12 Hills, cantata, 1976
Orchestral Symphony No. 3: Yam tichonit, 1952 9 other symphonies Flute Concerto Concertino for violin and orchestra
Chamber music Suite on B-A-C-H, chamber ensemble, 1964 Brass Quintet, 1969 Sonata for unaccompanied viola, 1984
See also List of Israel Prize recipients
References
Further reading Don Randel. The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Harvard, 1996, p. 32.