Rahamim Amar was born in 1898 in Jerusalem. His father's family was of Greek origin. His mother's family, who named Parnas, was deported from Spain, and was the 20th generation in Jerusalem. He started his music career when he served as a trumpet player in the British Police Band, which he joined as a youth after the beginning of the British Mandate in Israel. After his release from the army, he began to specialize in other musical instruments. He especially loved plucked string instruments. Later, he started playing the violin, with which he played and composed his whole life.
Amar has a unique compositional style. His style was composed from Spanish-Turkish and Arabic music. However, despite the popularity of Arab music in his time, Amar preserved his unique style in his works. In addition, after the establishment of the state, Amar combined more modern elements in his compositions, taken from Israeli music. His purpose in this combination was to make Eastern music accessible to a more diverse audience.
Before the establishment of the state, he would come every morning at 7:00 to "Kol Israel" (the "Voice of Israel") radio studio to play the opening of the 7:00 news.
Amar would work as a violinst in various Arab ensembles and performed in various cafes and clubs in Jaffa, where he lived. He would often travel to Arab villages to play at events and celebrations.
Through his life, Amar conducted Jerusalem choirs that performed his own compositions in synagogues and various events. They even participated regulary in programs on "Kol Israel" radio for several years. These choirs were considered the most prestigious in Jerusalem, and their graduates are considered great cantors and musicians. One of them is Itzik Kala.
Great musicians defined Amar as "the greatest musician and creator in the last century of the Spanish-Jerusalem style." Despite his importance and great success, Amar continued to perform as a simple violinist at events and celebrations until his last days.
During his musical career, Rahamim Amar composed about 300 songs, Piyutim and liturgical pieces. Additionally, he composed several songs for the poet Haim Nachman Bialik. Also, he cooperated with the poet Asher Mizrahi. In their youth they created, wrote, and composed several songs that are today considered classics among paytanim and cantors in the Spanish-Jerusalem style.
Most of Amar's works have not been recorded (except for the radio programs, which exist in the Kol Israel archive), and most of his works are unknown. Only a few of his famous compositions are sung today, among them: "Havivi Ya Havivi", Nagila Halleluyah", "Anna Be Hechasdecha" and more.
Amar passed away in 1976 when he was 78 years old.
Credit: Roni Ish-Ran. Full biography at the piyut site (Hebrew).
See also an article about his life (Hebrew): רחמים עמאר המלחין והיוצר.