Composer
Biography:
Paul Ben-Haim was born Paul Frankenburger in Munich in 1897. His father Heinrich was a lawyer and deputy chairman of the Jewish community in Munich. Ben-Haim studied piano and composition at the Munich Academy of Music from 1915. His studies were interrupted in 1916 when he was called up for military service. In 1920, he became a répétiteur at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Four years later, he was appointed Kapellmeister at the opera in Augsburg, where he conducted numerous works.
In addition to his work as a conductor, Ben-Haim composed chamber music and works for choir and orchestra. At the suggestion of composer Heinrich Schalit, he composed sacred chorales based on biblical texts and enjoyed great success in 1931 with his setting of Psalm 126. A few months later, he was dismissed from his position in Augsburg, and due to anti-Semitism, he was unable to find new employment.
In October 1933, Paul Frankenburger emigrated to Palestine, where he changed his name to Paul Ben-Haim. There he co-founded a new school of Jewish composers, all of whom had emigrated from Europe. From 1946 onwards, he taught composition at the Music Academy in Jerusalem and at the Music Teachers' College in Tel Aviv, training an entire generation of Israeli composers. Ben-Haim received numerous commissions for compositions from all over the world, including a commission from Yehudi Menuhin for the Sonata in G for solo violin. In 1968, Paul Ben-Haim was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit First Class in Germany.
In 1972, he accepted an invitation from his hometown of Munich to celebrate his 75th birthday. During this visit, he was involved in a traffic accident, the consequences of which confined him to a wheelchair until his death in 1984.
Albums:
