Yusuf Za'arur

Yusuf Za'arur was born in 1902 in Baghdad

Za'arur was born in Baghdad in 1902 to a noble family with many children. As a child he was drawn to synagogue music and built a qanun-like instrument, against his parents' wishes. They feared music would harm his general and Torah studies.

As a teenager he joined a group that sang blessings at celebrations, and later bought his first qanun. He also learned flute, violin and cello, and opened a school for musical instruments. He became a respected figure in Baghdad's music world.

He accompanied the singer Muhammad al-Qubanchi and traveled with him to Berlin to record. In 1932 he conducted Iraq's official orchestra at the First International Congress of Arab Music in Cairo and won first place. In 1936 Prime Minister Nuri al-Said appointed him director of the music department at Baghdad radio, where he formed Iraqi, Kurdish and Egyptian ensembles and brought in Jewish musicians.

He performed in the Land of Israel in 1944 and returned to Iraq. In 1951 he immigrated to Israel. He composed many songs and melodies, and died in 1969.