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Composer  

 

Avshalom Caspi was a renowned Israeli composer, born on December 31, 1932, in Jerusalem. He was the youngest of six siblings, and his family was deeply involved in music. His father, Yitzhak Caspi, was a composer and musicologist, and his mother, Rachel, was a pianist. Avshalom's siblings were also musically inclined, with his brother, Shmuel, becoming a well-known conductor. Avshalom's musical education began at a young age, with his mother teaching him piano. He later studied composition with Paul Ben-Haim at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. After completing his studies, he served in the Israeli army as a musician, playing the French horn in the army band. Caspi's early compositions were influenced by Jewish and Middle Eastern music, as well as Western classical music. He was particularly interested in the use of traditional instruments, such as the oud and the ney, in his compositions. His works often featured complex rhythms and harmonies, reflecting his interest in jazz and other non-classical genres. One of Caspi's early works, "Three Songs for Soprano and Piano," was premiered in 1957 and received critical acclaim. The songs, which set Hebrew poetry to music, showcased Caspi's skill at blending traditional and modern elements in his compositions. In the 1960s, Caspi began to gain international recognition for his work. He was awarded a scholarship to study at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts, where he studied with Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. He also received commissions from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. One of Caspi's most famous works is his "Concerto for Oud and Orchestra," which was premiered in 1965. The concerto features the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern instrument, as the soloist, and blends Middle Eastern and Western musical elements. The work was well-received and has since become a staple of the oud repertoire. Caspi continued to compose throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with works such as "Symphony No. 2" and "Concerto for Flute and Orchestra." He also served as the director of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance from 1975 to 1980. In the 1990s, Caspi's work took on a more spiritual and mystical tone. He began to incorporate Jewish liturgical music and texts into his compositions, as well as elements of Kabbalah and other mystical traditions. His works from this period include "Kabbalat Shabbat," a setting of the Friday night prayers, and "The Song of Songs," a choral work based on the biblical book of the same name. Caspi continued to compose and perform until his death on January 18, 2016, at the age of 83. He left behind a legacy of innovative and groundbreaking compositions that blended traditional and modern elements, and reflected his deep connection to Jewish and Middle Eastern music and culture.

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