Peretz Eliyahu

Peretz Eliyahu was born in 1960 in Derbent

Peretz Eliyahu was born in 1960 in Derbent, Dagestan, then part of the Soviet Union, under the name Piris Eligoyev. As a child he heard European classical music and asked his parents to let him study music.

He studied at the conservatory in Makhachkala from 1975 to 1979, and at the music academy in Rostov-on-Don from 1979 to 1984. He later began doctoral studies at Bar-Ilan University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He taught at the music college in Makhachkala, and from 1985 headed the traditional music department at Dagestan State University. He recorded folk music in Dagestan villages, including music of the Mountain Jews.

In 1989 he immigrated to Israel with his wife and 2 children and founded an ensemble for traditional Eastern music in Petah Tikva. He taught in Ariel and Netanya and lectured on music theory at Bar-Ilan University and in Jerusalem. His compositions blend maqam with Western classical music and some are set to texts from the Bible and Kabbalah.

In 2002 he moved to Arad and led desert journeys. He often performs with his son, the musician Mark Eliyahu.