Yitzhak Yedid

Yitzhak Yedid (; born 29 September 1971) is an Israeli-Australian composer of contemporary classical music, pianist and an educator.

The recipient of numerous awards, Yedid is an Azrieli Prize Laureate in Jewish Music, a Laureate of the , and a Sidney Myer Creative Fellow. His compositional style has been characterised as "eclectic, multicultural, and deeply personal" combining elements of Jewish cantorial music, European classical traditions, jazz and avant-garde techniques. He has been hailed as one of the most original composers on the international music scene today.

Interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural integration are central themes in his work.

Yedid has performed concert programs featuring Judaeo-Sephardic and Middle Eastern sacred music in his solo piano recitals.

Early life and education Yitzhak Yedid was born in Jerusalem to a Jewish family of Syrian and Iraqi descent. His father was of Syrian-Jewish background and his mother of Iraqi-Jewish background. His initial formative musical experiences included attending liturgical services at his local synagogue where he imbibed the sounds and rhythms of the Syrian-Jewish Baqashot tradition.

He was also immersed in music rooted in the broader Jewish-Arabic tradition, including the performance of traditional maqamat-based repertoire. At the same time, his mother encouraged his engagement with Western classical music and Western instrumental study. He began piano lessons with a private teacher at the age of seven. During his teenage years, he developed an interest in jazz piano, and by the age of twenty he was performing his original compositions with a contemporary music ensemble he had established.

Yitzhak Yedid's musical aesthetics find their roots in the music he immersed himself in during his formative years, particularly in the Aleppo's tradition of chanting Piyyutim and Baqashot. His musical journey is also inspired by piano music and improvisation. In his compositions, Yedid seamlessly integrates various elements, including energies and dynamics, while introducing a distinctive aesthetic that departs from the conventional norms of classical stage traditions. This innovative approach adds a nuanced, and at times even provocative, dimension to his musical creations.

Yedid studied at the Rubin Academy of Music with Vyacheslav Ganelin and the New England Conservatory in Boston with Ran Blake and Paul Bley in 1997 and 1998. He moved to Australia in 2007. In 2012 he completed a PhD at Monash University, where his dissertation examined Methods of Integrating Elements of Arabic Music and Arabic-Influenced Jewish Music into Contemporary Western Classical Music.

Career

Yitzhak Yedid released his debut album, Full Moon Fantasy, on the Musa label in 1999 Following its release, he performed throughout Scandinavia, including a joint recital in Sweden with Roland Pontinen. His second album, Inner Outcry, was released on Musa in 2001, Yedid was commissioned to compose the suite Tachanun for a festival in Vienna, Austria, in 2002. Tachanun has been performed many times in Israel including at the Kfar Blum Chamber Music Festival.

Myth of the Cave was commissioned by German record label Between the Lines. It was released in 2002. The five-movement piece has been performed at festivals in Germany and Austria, at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival. It is based on Plato's allegory of the cave, about cave dwellers imprisoned in near-darkness since birth whose sense of reality is distorted. One of them escapes to the outside world, reports on what he has seen and is put to death for his revelations. They recorded their maiden album in September 2002, which featured a blend of Ethiopian music and Free improvisation jazz.

In 2003 Yedid composed Passions and Prayers – Sextet in homage to Jerusalem for Between the Lines. It is a technically complex and conceptually melancholy composition that premiered at the 2004 Israel Festival. The CD was released in August 2005.

Reflections upon Six Images was commissioned by a festival in Vienna Austria in 2004. The music depicts the union and division of images, colours, textures, styles and cultures inspired by the world of the imagination. The composition was performed at the Vienna festival in September 2004 and at the Etnakhta concert series in 2004 in Israel. The album was released at the end of 2005.

In 2005, Yedid composed the Oud Bass Piano Trio, performed at the Sibiu Festival in Romania, as well as in Australia, Canada, and the US in May and September 2005.

In 2006, Yedid composed Since My Soul Loved, a four movement composition for improvising players for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano.

In 2009, Yedid composed Arabic Violin Bass Piano Trio. The work was premiered at the Jerusalem Theatre's Henry Crown Symphony Hall in March 2010. The composition is a continuation of his endeavour in Oud Bass Piano Trio (2005) integrating classical Arabic music, Arabic-influenced Jewish music and contemporary Western classical music. This trio has been composed for improvising performers.

After immigrating to Australia in 2007, Yedid expanded his output of large-scale orchestral and chamber works. His large-scale works include: Visions, Fantasies & Dances, music for string quartet, commissioned by Israel's Sapphire String Quartet; Piano Concerto (2016), commissioned by Michael Kieran Harvey and the Tel Aviv Soloists; Kiddushim & Killulim (2017) commissioned by Christian Lindberg & NK Orchestra; Delusions of War (2014) for 22 string soloists or string orchestra, commissioned by Divertimenti Ensemble and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra; Mandolin Concerto (2016), for mandolin and a large orchestra.

Yedid's chamber and solo works include: Chad Gadya (2017), quartet for clarinet, violin, cello & piano, commissioned by Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival; Sensations (2010) for piano, violin and cello, commissioned by Atar Trio; Angels' Revolt (2017) chaconne for solo piano, commissioned by Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition; Out to Infinity (2009) for Harp solo, commissioned by the 2009 International Harp Contest for their 50th Anniversary; The Crying Souls, Lament for Syrian Victims (2013), a cappella choir, commissioned by the Australian Voices (TAV)

Yedid has put out over ten albums as a solo act (Challenge Records International, Sony, Naxos, -btl-, Muse, MCI, and Kaleidos) and has collaborated Ethiopian-born saxophonist and vocalist Abate Berihun as the Ras-Deshen ensemble.

Yedid's works for strings include Visions, Fantasies and Dances for string quartet (2006–09), and Delusions of War for string orchestra (2014), and his compositions Oud Bass Piano Trio (2006) and 'Arabic Violin Bass Piano Trio' (2008) combine a classical Arabic instrument with Western instruments.

Some of Yedid's works have been described as Third Stream, which combines contemporary classical music with jazz improvisation. Much of Yedid's output includes slots where soloists can improvise. Yedid has often said he is delighted when performers surprise him with their inventiveness. The composition was inspired by the atmosphere of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims, where the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque stand in close proximity and large numbers of worshippers gather daily for prayer. Rather than presenting a political position, the work explores the spiritual and emotional tensions associated with the site. Structured as a sequence of interconnected musical tableaux, it combines elements of Arabic classical music and Mizrahi Jewish liturgical traditions with contemporary Western compositional techniques and free improvisation. Through this juxtaposition of musical traditions, the piece reflects themes of devotion, conflict and reflection associated with the location.

Musical style and influences Yedid's creative output spans three principal areas: works for the classical concert stage, compositions that incorporate or facilitate improvisation, and pizmonim and liturgical music for synagogue use. While rooted in contemporary classical practice, his music draws upon Jewish liturgical traditions, Middle Eastern musical aesthetics, and improvisational approaches, creating connections between sacred and secular, written and spontaneous forms of musical expression. Characteristic features of his music include the use of maqam-derived melodic materials, microtonality, cantorial idioms, jazz improvisation, and contemporary classical techniques, reflecting his interest in synthesising diverse musical traditions.

Yedid has cited Arabic music as an important influence on his compositional language:

Yedid's style of composition has been described as

Barry Davis wrote in The Jerusalem Post,

Yedid writes

This correlates with what the critics write about his music: John Shand from the Sydney Morning Herald wrote in 2014 about Yedid's Myth of the Cave "a vividly expansive composition"; Noam Ben-Zeav (Haaretz) wrote in 2013 that "Yedid music is an authentic expression of new music which incorporates a wide spectrum of contemporary and ancient styles"; and Ake Holmquist (NorraSkåne, Sweden) wrote in 2004 that

Yedid have shown a new direction in his later works and courage to make a commentary on international current political/religious problems that continue to find no resolution. He writes: The music aims to make the listeners 'feel' the human suffering that the war causes, and, without assuming to have answers, to encourage them to pause for a moment and to envisage better ways than force to resolve crises. The music captures emotions of anger and fear, and feelings of sorrow, tragedy and righteousness. His winning composition, Kiddushim Ve’ Killulim (Blessings and Curses), Yedid received a total prize package valued at over , which included a world premiere performance of his work by Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, and a recording released on the Analekta label.

In 2018 Yedid was awarded the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship, valued over a two-year period.

Yedid has received the Prime Minister's Prize for Composers in 2007 and the in 2009. Additionally, in 2008, he received the first composition prize for Out to Infinity, a solo work for harp, at the 17th International Harp contest which led to numerous performances and recordings of the piece worldwide. Yedid has been awarded a composer-in- residence position at the Judith Wright Arts Centre (Brisbane, 2010), at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2008) and at the Gallop House in WA (2021, National Trust of Australia).

Commissions

In 2026, Yedid was commissioned to compose a large‑scale cantata, The Dry Bones Cantata, with financial support from the Sidney Myer Foundation, which provided $200,000 AUD for its commissioning and development. The work, scheduled for premiere in 2027 and lasting approximately 60 minutes, is scored for symphony orchestra, chorus, and narrator.

Awards 2025 Sidney Myer Fellows Commission Award 2021 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music 2019 Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship 2016 ACUM Prize Michael Landau Foundation, Israel 2009 Australia Council for the Arts commissioning grant 2007: Israel Prime Minister Award for Composers double bass and piano (ca. 56') Commissioned by Deutsche Structured Finance GmbH, Germany CD released by Between The Lines Premiere: May 2005, Frankfurt, Germany Yedid Ensemble (François Houle – clarinet & bass clarinet; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Tachanun (2005), Suite in one movement for piano solo (ca. 50') Commissioned by Vienna Music Gallery Festival, Vienna, Austria Premiere: Chamber Music Festival, Israel Yitzhak Yedid – piano

Full Moon Fantasy (2005) for piano solo (ca. 37') Commissioned by Musa Records 2001 CD released in 1999 by Musa records; reissued in 2005 Yitzhak Yedid – piano

Oud, Bass, Piano Trio (2006), Parts 3 (ca. 11') Commissioned by the Oud International Festival CD released by Challenge International Records and Between The Lines in August 2007 Premiere: 2006, Vancouver Festival Yedid Ensemble (Michael Maroun – oud; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Reflections upon Six Images (2006), Image 1, for clarinet, viola, double bass and piano (ca. 13') Commissioned by Vienna Music Gallery Festival, Vienna, Austria CD released by Between The Lines Premiere: Vienna Music Gallery Festival Yedid Ensemble (François Houle – clarinet & bass clarinet; Galia Hai – viola; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Oud, Bass, Piano Trio (2006), Parts 1–2 (ca. 21') Commissioned by the Oud International Festival CD released by Challenge International Records and Between The Lines in August 2007 Premiere: May 2005, Sibiu Festival, Romania Yedid Ensemble (Michael Maroun – oud; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Ras Deshen (2006) for voice, saxophones, krar and piano (ca. 61') Commissioned by MCI CD released by MCI records Premiere: Tel Aviv Arts Festival Ras Deshen Ensemble (Abatte Barihun – voice and saxophones; Fentahon Malessa – krar; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Nine Images (2007) for violin, cello and piano (ca. 18') Commissioned by IBA Premiere: March 2007, Jerusalem International YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel Orit Wolf – piano; Nathaniel Vallois – violin; Doo-Min Kim – cello

Chagall Project (2007), seven piano solo pieces inspired by Marc Chagall (ca. 42') Commissioned by The Israeli Music Festival Premiere: September 2007 CD released by Challenge International Records in September 2010 Yitzhak Yedid – piano

Oud, Bass, Piano Trio (2007), Parts 4–5 (ca. 32') Commissioned by the Oud International Festival CD released by Challenge International Records and Between The Lines in August 2007 Premiere: May 2005, Sibiu Festival, Romania Yedid Ensemble (Michael Maroun – oud; Ora Boasson-Horev – double-bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano

Reflections upon Six Images (2007), Images 2–3, for clarinet, viola, double bass and piano (ca. 27') Commissioned by Vienna Music Gallery Festival, Vienna, Austria CD released by Between The Lines Premiere: Vienna Music Gallery Festival, Austria Yedid Ensemble (François Houle – clarinet & bass-clarinet; Galia Hai – viola; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Ethiopian voices: Psalms (2008) for three singers, Ethiopian folk dancer, alto, double bass and piano (ca. 51') Commissioned by the Confederation House Premiere: November 2008, Confederation House, Jerusalem, Israel Ras Deshen Ensemble (Abatte Barihun – voice and saxophones; Esti Kenan Ofri – voice; Tzeta Germaye – voice and dance; Fentahon Malessa – krar; Ora Boasson-Horev – double bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

Clowns at Night (2008) for piano solo (ca. 16') Commissioned by Deutsche Media Productions GmbH & Co. KG Premiere: March 2008, Jerusalem International YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel Yitzhak Yedid, piano

String Quartet No 1 (2008) (ca. 14') Commissioned by Deutsche Media Productions GmbH & Co. KG and Between The Lines Premiere: March 2010, Henry Crown Symphony Hall, Jerusalem, Israel Sapphire String Quartet (Janna Gandelman – violin; Roman Spitzer – violin; Amos Boasson – viola; Oleg Stolpner – cello)

Since my Soul Loved (2008) for violin, Israeli premiere: October 2009, Tel Aviv, Israel Various competing harpists

In Memory (2009), duo for flute (piccolo and bass) and piano (ca. 13') Commissioned by Lior Eitan Premiere: 21 April 2010, Jerusalem International YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel Lior Eitan – flute; Monica Fallon – piano

String Quartet No 3 (2009) (ca. 13') Commissioned by Sapphire String Quartet Premiere: March 2010, Henry Crown Symphony Hall, Jerusalem, Israel Sapphire String Quartet (Janna Gandelman – violin; Roman Spitzer – violin; Amos Boasson – viola; Oleg Stolpner – cello)

Kidoshin (2009), duo for saxophone (tenor and soprano) and piano (ca. 26') Commissioned by Shoham Foundation Premiere: August 2010 Albert Beger – saxophone; Yitzhak Yedid – piano

String Quartet No 2 (2009) (ca. 9') Commissioned by Sapphire String Quartet Premiere: March 2010, Henry Crown Symphony Hall, Jerusalem, Israel Sapphire String Quartet (Janna Gandelman – violin; Roman Spitzer – violin; Amos Boasson – viola; Oleg Stolpner – cello)

Sensations (2010) for piano, violin and cello (c. 14') Commissioned by Atar Trio Premiere: September 2010, Austria Atar Trio (Tanya Beltser- violin; Marina Katz- cello; Ofer Shelley – piano)

Piano Quintet (2010) for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (ca. 52') Commissioned by Jazz Lines München 2011, Munich, Germany Premiere: March 2011, Allerheiligen-Hofkirche, Jazz Lines München 2011l, Munich, Germany Yedid Ensemble (Daniel Hoffman – violin; Galia Hai – viola; Yoni Gotlibovich – cello; Ora Boasson-Horev – double-bass; Yitzhak Yedid – piano)

String Quartet No 4 (2010) (ca. 9') Commissioned by Sapphire String Quartet Premiere: November 2012, Jerusalem International YMCA, Jerusalem, Israel Sapphire String Quartet (Janna Gandelman – violin; Roman Spitzer – violin; Amos Boasson – viola; Oleg Stolpner – cello)

Through the Window of Marc Chagall (2010) for piano solo (c. 55')

Passions and Prayers, Sextet in hommage to Jerusalem (2011) for horn, clarinet/bass clarinet,

Arabic Violin Bass Piano Trio](2012) for Arabic violin, double bass and piano, for 6-part a cappella choir Commissioned by The Australian Voices Premiere: August 2013 at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem The Australian Voices

Psalm 1 (2014) for solo soprano (ca. 6') Supported by the Australia Council for the Arts

Delusions of War (2014) ca. 24' Broadcast live on Israel Broadcasting Authority's (IBA) Kol Ha'Musika station

Zikaron (2013–14), a structured improvisation for piano solo (ca. 55') Commissioned by Kawai Piano Series Premiere: April 2015, Kawai Piano Series, Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Yitzhak Yedid, piano

CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND STRINGS (2016) ca. 24' For piano and strings, or Michael Kieran Harvey Commissioned by the Tel Aviv Soloists and Australian pianist Michael Kieran Harvey World premiere: 6 October 2016, Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Divertimenti conducted by Graeme Jennings Israeli premiere: 20 May 2017, Tel Aviv, Israel Michael Kieran Harvey, piano; Tel Aviv Soloists

Angels' Revolt (2016) (ca. 10') Premiere: September 2017

Chad Gadya (2017, for clarinet violin, cello and piano (ca. 12') Commissioned by Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival Premiere: 30 July 2017, Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival Concert 6, Dunwich Public Hall, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, Australia William Stafford, clarinet; Rachel Smith, violin; Louise King, cello; Ayesha Gough, piano

KIDDUSHIM VE' KILLULIM (Blessings & Curses), 2017

Music for Ancient Rituals (2018, for 13 wind instruments (ca. 10') Commissioned by ANAM Premiere: 12 September 2018, South Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne, Australia Eliza Shephard, Flute/Piccolo; Wally Hase, Flute; Nick Deutsch, Oboe; Owen Jackson, Oboe; Dimitri Ashkenazy, Clarinet; Mitchell Jones, Clarinet; Lyndon Watts, Bassoon; Carol Wang, Bassoon; Matthew Ventura, Contrabassoon; Marie Luise Neunecker, Horn; William Tanner, Horn; Freya Hombergen, Horn; Maraika Smit, Horn; Fabian Rusell, Conductor

MAQA VIOLIN (2018, for violin solo (ca. 16') Commissioned by Graeme Jennings and Karen Bentley Pollick. Premiere: 20 July 2017, Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music

LA BALLERINA DEL DIAVOLO (The Devil's Ballerina) 2020, (ca. 12') Solo piano, with optional improvising dancer. Commissioned by Brisbane Music Festival Premiere: Alex Raineri, Brisbane Music Festival on 27 Oct 2023

Publications 2001: Analysis of "Tachanun" (2001) WMG 2002: Myth and Music, Allegory of the Cave, CD Liner notes, Vienna New Music Festival Booklet 2003: Analysis of "Passions & Prayers, Sextet in Homage to Jerusalem" CD Liner notes and Israel Festival program. 2004: Analysis of "Reflections Upon Six Images" IBA channel 2005: "Psalms", Ethiopian tradition Kessim Liturgy Liner notes. Confederation House Program. 2005: Analysis of "Oud-Bass-Piano Trio" IBA channel, Israel 2006: Analysis of "Since my soul Loved" Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), Israel 2007: Oud Bass Piano Trio – New music incorporating a spectrum of contemporary and ancient styles. Sibiu Festival booklet (Romania), Vienna Festival booklet (Austria), International Oud Festival booklet. 2008: Analysis of "Out to Infinity" Curriculum Vitae 2003 Myth of the Cave 2005 Passions & Prayers, Sextet in Homage to Jerusalem 2006 Reflections upon Six Images 2008 Oud Bass Piano Trio 2009 Since My Soul Loved 2010 Through the Window of Marc Chagall 2012 Arabic Violin Bass Piano Trio 2014 Visions, Fantasies and Dances: Music for String Quartet Sapphire String Quartet 2019 Angels' Revolt 2021 V'ahavta ("and thou shalt love) 2022 New Jewish Music, (Kadosh Kadosh and Cursed)