The Israel Music Institute (IMI) is a non-profit organization supported by the Israel Ministry of Education and Culture. The institute was established in 1961 by the Public Committee for Arts and Culture, with the aim of publishing and promoting Israeli art music at home and abroad. IMI also serves as the Israel Music Information Center- a member of the International Association of Music Information Centers (IAMIC), maintaining reciprocal ties with some 40 member countries.
Since its establishment, IMI has acquired the rights to more than 3800 compositions by some 250 Israeli composers. The IMI catalogue contains a great variety of music: orchestral, choral, chamber and educational, as well as a plethora of articles and a number of musicological works. Both on its own label and in cooperation with several other non-profit musical institutions in Israel, IMI is active in producing CDs of Israeli art music, which it sees as an important tool for promoting Israeli composers’ works.
History
The IMI was established in 1961 by the Israel Council for Culture and Arts, an adjunct of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, with the aim of publishing and promoting Israeli concert music by all means available. The first chairman of the board of trustees was the late Eliezer Peri, and the first Director and editor in chief was William (Willy) Elias, who served in this role from 1961 to 1989. Despite having no prior experience in music publishing (Elias had been a banker and a singer in Rinat choir) he was able to build sound foundations for the prominent publishing house in Israel. He made a point of producing highly professional scores, thus raising significantly local music publishing standards common at that time. He also initiated an IMI bulletin, concerts, listening events and composers' forums as part of IMI activities.
Since 2006, production of the Israel music festival became the IMI's main focus, as the flagship event in the Israeli concert music scene. IMI's goal was to achieve synergy between the institute's activities, in publishing as well as recording, and the festival's production.
In 2019, Ohad Gabay was appointed director, with Evgeny Oslon as editor in chief. Gabay and Olson expanded the institute's collaborations with various festivals and competitions (such as TARF- the Tel Aviv recorder festival, The Israeli Conservatory's composition competition, the Ben-Haim competition and others). They also emphasized digitation of archival materials, signing of young composers and expansion of the IMI's catalogue, as well as optimizing publishing processes. In 2022, attorney Oron Schwartz was appointed chair of the board.
As the major publishing house for Israeli music, IMI has held a significant role in the development of the contemporary music scene. The international availability of some 3800 Israeli scores, the growing collection of Israeli CDs, and the existence, in the past, of IMI News, and today- the IMI website, have created the scene of local contemporary music no less than they reflect it.
Publishing house
Paul Ben-Haim: His Life and Works
The Israel Music Institute is the first publicly owned music publishing house in Israel and the most influential one on the local scene. It is devoted primarily to the publication of Israeli art music, but also publishes books and booklets on Israeli music and composers, and formerly, a periodical- IMI News. It is the only local publishing house represented internationally by some ten leading European and US publishers, among them: Theodore Presser Co. (USA, Canada & Mexico), Albersen & Co B.V. (The Netherlands), Peermusic classical (Germany, Austria & Switzerland), EME (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain & Portugal), Engström & Södring Musikverlag AS (Denmark), and Český hudební fond, o. p. s. (Czechia, Slovakia & Hungary).
Since its establishment, IMI has acquired the rights to more than 3800 compositions by some 250 Israeli composers. IMI publishes compositions by virtually all important contemporary classical Israeli composers working in Israel since 1920. The Institute's catalogue encompasses orchestral music, chamber music, solo instrumental music and vocal music (ranging from solo song to choral and choral-orchestral music), electronic music, several operas and ballet scores, and music for educational purposes.
CD label
The IMI produces CDs both on its own label and in cooperation with several other non-profit musical institutions in Israel, as well as markets CDs of Israeli art music produced by other labels.
The institute made its first steps in the field of music production during the 70s, with the production of several records (LPs) and even a first tape cassette. In 1990, the institute was invited to join and run an existing project- music in Israel (MII). The collaborating organizations were The Jerusalem Music Center, Kol Israel (The Voice of Israel radio station), Acum (Association for composers, writers and publishers), and the Ministry of Education and Culture. The MII produced 26 CDs. It was active for 7 years, after which the institute continued to issue CDs independently. It has produced 61 CDs so far.
Collaborations and yearly events
IMI Concerts
IMI collaborates with major orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles and musical education institutions in Israel, as well as with numerous musical bodies around the world. As Israel's leading music publishing house, it is involved with virtually all musical events which include commissions from Israeli composers, performances of Israeli music and premieres, including major events such as the Paul Ben-Haim Competition- Young Artists Play Israeli Music (organized by Jeunesses Musicales Israel); the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition; The International Harp Contest in Israel; and the Zimriya- the World Assembly of Choirs in Israel. It also collaborates with TARF festival for recorder music, the Israeli conservatory's composition competition, and the Israel Contemporary Players’ concert series (in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem), among others. The institute supplies scores for concerts held at the Jerusalem Music Centre which include Israeli premieres and supports Meitar contemporary music ensemble. Between 2006 and 2018, IMI produced the Israel Music Festival, an annual festival of Israeli music held in Jerusalem and other cities in Israel. The Institute also exhibits its various publications at different musical events in Israel and abroad.
Past events which IMI has been involved with (during the late 90s and early 2000s) are the Biennial events for Contemporary Music at Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, the contemporary music concert series by the Musica Nova Consort (at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art), and the yearly Classical Music Festival in the Upper Galilee. During the 90s, the institute, in collaboration with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, produced two composition competitions for orchestral works. The project had two main goals: to encourage composition of quality symphonic works, and to increase public awareness of the institute and its activities. The jury was international, and during the finals, three works were played by the orchestra in front of a live audience and broadcast live.
Information center
Not long after the IMI was established, the Israel Council for Culture and Arts, an adjunct of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, decided it should also function as an information center, IMIC- the Israel Music Information Center. As such, it is a member of IAMIC, the International Association of Music Information Centers. In the beginning, it provided information on all things musical happening in Israel (not just Israeli music), but once the composers’ association founded the Israel Music Center (IMC) and a battle over funds began, the IMIC’s functions were expanded to encompass those of worldwide MICs, and it also became a publisher. Thus, the institute actually comprises two different publishing companies: IMI and IMIC, although today, IMIC is no longer active, and most of its publications are included in the general IMI catalogue.
Between 1990 and 2009, IMI published a comprehensive bulletin, IMI News. In addition to documenting the Institute’s own activities, the journal encompassed the entire concert music scene in Israel, as well as performances of Israeli music across the globe. Today, IMI’s website provides access to the Institute’s catalogues (including the possibility of ordering scores, books and recordings) and is currently being updated to also provide information regarding all Israeli music performances and composers. At IMI’s Listening Center, a collection of some 2700 scores by over 250 composers is available for perusal and the archive of recorded music holds some 1600 items. The institute is currently in the process of creating a central library for Israeli music, which aims to make music by all Israeli composers available to musicians for perusal and consultation, both in scores and (where possible) in recordings.
The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish music traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture. For almost 150 years, musicians have sought original stylistic elements that would define the emerging national spirit. In addition to creating an Israeli style and sound, Israel's musicians have made significant contributions to classical, jazz, pop rock and other international music genres. Since the 1970s, there has been a flowering of musical diversity, with Israeli rock, folk and jazz musicians creating and performing extensively, both locally and abroad. Many of the world's top classical musicians are Israelis or Israeli expatriates. The works of Israeli classical composers have been performed by leading orchestras worldwide.
Paul Ben-Haim was an Israeli composer. Born Paul Frankenburger in Munich, Germany, he studied composition with Friedrich Klose and he was assistant conductor to Bruno Walter and Hans Knappertsbusch from 1920 to 1924. He served as conductor at Augsburg from 1924 to 1931, and afterwards devoted himself to teaching and composition, including teaching at the Shulamit Conservatory in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Noam Sheriff was an Israeli composer, conductor, educator and arranger. He was Artistic Director of Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra (1973-1982); Music Director of the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion (1989-1995); Professor of Composition and Conducting at the Tel Aviv University's Samuel Rubin Academy of Music since 1990 and the Academy's director ; Artistic Director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra (2002-2005); and Artistic Director of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra (2004-2013).
Josef Tal was an Israeli composer. He wrote three Hebrew operas; four German operas, dramatic scenes; six symphonies; 13 concerti; chamber music, including three string quartets; instrumental works; and electronic compositions. He is considered one of the founding fathers of Israeli art music.
Yehuda Yannay is a composer. He was born in Timișoara, Romania, and emigrated to Israel in 1951. In Israel, he studied at the Rubin Academy, Tel Aviv. He subsequently studied at Brandeis University, the Tanglewood Music Center and the University of Illinois, before becoming a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW–M). He is now an emeritus professor of music at UW–M.
Yoav Talmi (Hebrew: יואב תלמי; born April 28, 1943, is an Israeli conductor and composer.
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Max Stern is a composer, critic, double-bassist, conductor and educator. He has created a rich genre of biblical compositions blending East and West in contemporary and traditional genres.
Yardena Alotin was an Israeli composer and pianist. As a pianist and teacher, Alotin also wrote educational music and music for young musicians, such as Six Piano Pieces for Children. Alotin won the Nissimov Prize for her 1956 work, Yefei Nof.
Dov (Dubi) Seltzer is a Romanian-born Israeli composer and conductor.
Shai Cohen is an Israeli music educator and composer of contemporary classical music.
Ayal Adler, is an Israeli composer. Active internationally, his works are continuously performed worldwide. Serves as Associate Professor in composition and theory at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Recipient of numerous awards, including: the Prime-Minister Award for Composition; Two Acum Prizes, and the first prize at the RMN International Competition in London. Serves as a Board member of the Israeli Composers' League.
Dov Carmel is a composer and arranger, who began producing compositions during the 1960s.
Ioseb Bardanashvili is an Israeli and Georgian composer. His works span classical to contemporary composition for film.
Michael Tsalka is a Dutch/Israeli pianist and early keyboard performer. He performs solo and chamber music from the Baroque to the Contemporary periods on the modern piano, harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano and positive organ. Michael Tsalka, who is the oldest son of Israeli writer Dan Tsalka, performs throughout Europe, the U.S.A., Canada, Asia, and Latin America. Recent engagements include the Boston Early Music Festival, the Gasteig in Münich, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, the Bellas Artes Theater in Mexico City, the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, the Hermitage Festival in St. Petersburg, and full programs and interviews for radio stations in Hong Kong, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Chicago, Berlin, Auckland, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Jerusalem.
Astrith Baltsan is an Israeli concert pianist and musicologist, known for her Beethoven interpretation and her unique concert style reaching out for larger audiences worldwide.
Ilan Rechtman is an Israeli pianist, composer and music director.
The Israeli Women Composers & Performers Forum is a non-profit organization, founded to establish, base and promote women composers in the Israeli music scene, and to bring their music to a wide recognition. The foundation was established in 2000 by the composer Hagar Kadima as the Israeli Women Composers Forum. In 2014 the Forum has also expanded to include women performers, thus getting its current name. In the same year, the Forum has become a musical organization uniting composers and performers and is assisted by the Felicja Blumenthal Music Center, Tel Aviv.
Ziv "Kojo" Cojocaru is an Israeli composer, conductor and arranger who serves as Head of Composition, Conducting and Music Theory Department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and as Conductor in Residence of the Israel Sinfonietta Orchestra.
Sergiu Shapira is an Israeli composer, educator, and musicologist. His works include orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal music. His music was performed, recorded and published in various countries, such as the U.S, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, Georgia, Romania, Israel, and others. Shapira was awarded many prizes and awards, including the first prize of the International Clarinet Association. His works were selected to represent the state of Israel in numerous international music festivals and were performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and other major stages around the world.
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