Geographically, Israel is part of the Middle East; its musical heritage is historically related to Arab, Persian, Turkish, and North African traditions. However, its history of immigration in the last century has made its musical profile very different from that of its MIDDLE EASTERN neighbors. Israel as a country is rather new, established in 1948 as an official Jewish state. When the state was established, music was recognized as an important element: It has the power to bring diverse immigrant groups together and can function as a way to form a national identity.
Beginning in the 1880s large numbers of Jewish people began moving to this area, as the historical homeland of the Jewish religion. By 1914, the population was approximately 80,000. Due to increasing prejudice against, and brutal persecution of, Jews in various parts of Europe between 1920 and 1948, Jewish people emigrated from their various homelands to this country, which was then referred to as Palestine, in great waves. Many immigrants came from parts of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Immigrants also began arriving from North Africa, South America, and North America. Today, Jews from Ethiopia, Russia, Argentina, and many other countries continue to immigrate to Israel. In fact, there are now so many diverse ethnic groups in Israel that it is considered to be one of the most multicultural nations in the world.
Each immigrant group brought the traditions of the homeland, including music. Since there were many fine musicians and composers among the early immigrants from Europe, Western classical music became well known and widely performed in Palestine. The Palestine Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1936 (renamed the Israel Philharmonic, now an important world-class orchestra). At that time, urban musical life was similar to that in European cities, with orchestra concerts, vocal and instrumental solo and ensemble recitals, European-style musical theater and cabaret shows, and many styles of popular music. Indigenous and traditional Arabic music continued to be performed by established poets and musicians. Immigrants also brought their own folk and composed music. Classically-trained composers emerged, such as European immigrant Paul Ben-Haim, whose work is internationally recognized. In addition to the Tel Aviv is the home of the Israel Philharmonic. The cities of Jerusalem, Beer Sheva, and Haifa each each have their own symphpny orchestras too. European immigrants brought a strong choral tradition to Israel. It continues to this day with numerous community, symphonic, and children’s choirs performing throughout the country. Israel has hosted the Zimryia (world choral festival) every three years since 1952.
In the early waves of immigration to Palestine and the State of Israel, it was believed that there should be one kind of music that would unify the various groups belonging to the new region. To fill this gap, amateur and professional composers invented a "new" folk tradition, writing songs that spoke to the emotions and ideals of the new settlements. The lyrics of these songs are in Hebrew, and the melodies are primarily derived from Eastern European folk and pop sources. Often they are in minor keys, in duple meter, and simple in structure. It was widely held that the use of familiar melodies would help immigrant groups assimilate more quickly into the developing Israeli culture. Song texts emphasize pride in the new nation and hope for its development. Accordion, guitar, and an Arabic clay drum (dumbek) typically provided accompaniment. Lyrics might be composed specifically for the new songs, but frequently either existing texts or the beautiful poetry of Bialik and Rahel have been set to music. A comparable trend was seen in folk dance—lacking a common heritage, choreographers invented dances based on their home traditions that then became identified with the new cultural region.
The 1960s and 1970s saw a rise in folk music with texts reflecting the political and social times. It was during this time that numerous songs about Jerusalem and peace appeared. Songs by composers such as Naomi Shemer, whose music helped form the Israeli folk idiom, remain popular to this day. Immigrant singers, such as the still popular Chava Alberstein continued to sing in Hebrew and Yiddish.
The global spread of rock music in the 1960s affected this tradition as well; the new folk music took on the characteristics of rock and was accompanied by electric organ, drums, guitar, and bass guitar. The music of other artists like Arik Einstein, Shalom Hanoch and Tvika Pik began to show the influences of world and rock music. Since then, Israel has produced its own rock groups such as Kaveret that sing in Hebrew about topics important to Israeli youth but follow international musical trends. More recently, other groups have successfully blended world beat music with the Israeli idiom and the music of their own background. Ofra Haza, born in Israel to a family originally from Yemen, was a prime example of the fusion of musics that create the contemporary Israeli musical sound. She became internationally known and before her untimely death her voice was also heard on the 1998 Disney Soundtrack "Prince of Egypt."
Along with the ongoing and pervasive European influence on Israeli musical life, there has been an ongoing desire by some to return to pre-European, Middle-Eastern roots. The 1950s saw influences of Iraq and Egypt in popular music; the 1960s saw Arabic and Greek influences.
In the 1980s a style known as "eastern Mediterranean" developed, incorporating melodies in modes and with ornamentation that sound Middle Eastern but with accompaniment built around electric guitar, bass guitar, and drum set. This is yet one more addition to the many musical styles found in Israel today.
