Menachem Avidom

• Name — Menachem Avidom • Native Name — מנחם אבידום • Birth Name — Mendel Mahler-Kalkstein • Born — 6 January 1908 • Birthplace — Stanisławów, Austria-Hungary • Died — 5 August 1995 • Place of death — Tel Aviv, Israel • Occupation — Composer • Known for — * Israeli composer • General Secretary of the Israeli Philharmonic • Director of ACUM • Chair of the Israel Composer's League • Education — American University of Beirut, Paris Conservatory • Awards — Israel Prize (1961)

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.

• 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