Yehezkel Braun
Israel Prize recipient, ACUM Prize winner and Yakir (notable person) of the city of Tel Aviv, Yehezkel Braun was born in Breslau, Germany (today Wroclaw, Poland) in 1922. His family settled in British Palestine two years later. He studied at the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, and afterwards joined Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. During the Second World War, he volunteered in the Jewish Brigade of the British army and fought in Italy. Upon returning from the war to the Kibbutz, he was sent to the Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel-Aviv in order to become a teacher of biology and zoology. He also studied harmony and counterpoint with Alexander Uriyah Boskovich. His studies were interrupted by the 1948 Jewish-Arab war, when he joined the battles to defend his Kibbutz.
Braun was a farmer when he decided to become a musician. “The music began with me gradually,” said Braun. “Until I returned to the Kibbutz after the war, I did not think about music seriously. It was a hobby that became serious over the years. It came to my mind that I have unusual musical skills that other people usually don’t have”. Yehezkel studied at the Israel Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv, where he became a teacher right after the completion of his studies there. At the same time, he also taught at the Kibbutzim College of Education, and later at the Seminary for Music Teachers. In 1966 the Israel Academy of Music was affiliated to Tel-Aviv University, and Braun became Assistant Professor. After several years, he was promoted to Associate Professor and subsequently to Full Professor. He retired at 1989 as Professor Emeritus. In 1975, he studied Gregorian chant with Father Dom Jean Claire in France. During his work at the University, he pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in Classical Studies, with emphasis on Greek and Roman languages.
Yehezkel Braun was a prolific composer who wrote music for orchestra, chamber ensemble, and choir as well as vocal music. He also wrote music for movies, theatre and dance and created arrangements of popular songs. In the 1960’s he worked with popular bands and vocal ensembles.
His unique approach for composition was manifested by Braun when he said “I compose what I hear.” He avoided any conceptions and ideologies, hence his variety as a composer. At times, he used Ashkenazi and Eastern-Jewish melos. The influence of Hayden, Bartok and Brahms is prominent in his chamber and orchestral music. The dominant characteristic of Braun’s music is the beautiful, communicative melody, modal and tonal harmony and classical form. His music is well-known worldwide and performed often.