Moshe Vilenski
Encyclopedia
Moshe Vilenski was an Israeli composer, lyricist, and pianist. He is considered a "pioneer of Israeli song", and one of Israel's leading composers, and was a winner of the Israel Prize
, the state's highest honor.
in 1932. He married Bertha Yakimovska in 1939.
, including the Nahal
choir in the 1950s. He also composed for films, plays, hora
dances, cabaret songs, and nursery children's tunes. He was in charge of the Israel Radio orchestra, and wrote nearly 1,500 songs from the 1930s through the 1980s.
Vilenski's music combines Slavic
music and Eastern music. Many of Natan Alterman's poems were set to his music. He is known especially for his work with Shoshana Damari. Among his songs are "Kalaniyot
" ("Anemones"), "Hayu Zmanim" ("In Those Times)",
"Autumn," "Ring Twice and Wait," "Each Day I Lose," "The Last Battle", and "Mul Har Sinai" ("Opposite Mt. Sinai").
In 1962, Israeli Esther Reichstadt won second prize at the Polish international song festival with Vilenski's song "Autumn".
In 1983, Vilenski was awarded the Israel Prize
, for Hebrew song (melody). In 1990, a special concert in honor of his 80th birthday was given by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1998, the Israel Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ACUM) named its Song of the Year Award the "Moshe Wilensky Prize".
In 2005, Vilenski was voted the 187th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, the state's highest honor.
Early life
Vilenski, who was Jewish, was born in Warsaw, Poland, the son of Zelig and Henia (née Liebman). He studied music at the Warsaw Conservatory in Warsaw, specializing in conducting and composition, and immigrated to PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in 1932. He married Bertha Yakimovska in 1939.
Music career
Vilenski worked in theaters as a pianist. He became a composer and lyricist for theaters and for musical troupes of the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, including the Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
choir in the 1950s. He also composed for films, plays, hora
Hora
Hora is a type of circle dance originating in the Balkans but also found in other countries. The name is cognate to the Greek χορός : 'dance' which is cognate with the ancient Greek art form of χορεία; see Chorea. The original meaning of the Greek word χορός may have been 'circle'...
dances, cabaret songs, and nursery children's tunes. He was in charge of the Israel Radio orchestra, and wrote nearly 1,500 songs from the 1930s through the 1980s.
Vilenski's music combines Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
music and Eastern music. Many of Natan Alterman's poems were set to his music. He is known especially for his work with Shoshana Damari. Among his songs are "Kalaniyot
Kalaniyot
Kalaniyot is an Israeli song that became popular in the days leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel and has remained an Israeli classic....
" ("Anemones"), "Hayu Zmanim" ("In Those Times)",
"Autumn," "Ring Twice and Wait," "Each Day I Lose," "The Last Battle", and "Mul Har Sinai" ("Opposite Mt. Sinai").
In 1962, Israeli Esther Reichstadt won second prize at the Polish international song festival with Vilenski's song "Autumn".
In 1983, Vilenski was awarded the Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, for Hebrew song (melody). In 1990, a special concert in honor of his 80th birthday was given by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1998, the Israel Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ACUM) named its Song of the Year Award the "Moshe Wilensky Prize".
In 2005, Vilenski was voted the 187th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.