The Passing of Matti Caspi
Matti Caspi, one of Israel’s greatest composers, passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 76.
His passing left a profound void in the world of Israeli music and culture. Over decades of creation, he composed more than a thousand songs and was involved in countless productions. He left a lasting mark on Israeli music and an extraordinary body of work that will continue to be heard for many years to come.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, a public memorial ceremony was held in Tel Aviv. His coffin lay in state at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, where, among others, Riki Gal, Shlomo Gronich, and Danny Robas performed in his memory.
Later that day, his funeral took place at the “Menucha Nechona” cemetery in Kfar Saba, in the presence of family members, friends, and colleagues.
The Will of Matti Caspi
Four years before his passing, he was asked in an interview by Sagi Ben Nun: “What would you like to be played at your funeral? What would you want written on your gravestone?”
Matti’s moving reply:
“I thought there could be a gathering once a year around the grave — to eat well, play good music, and tell jokes.”
(From Walla Tarbut)
With the news of his passing, countless tributes, articles, and personal reflections were published across the media and on social networks, attesting to his central place in Israeli culture and the profound impact he had on so many.
“Matti Caspi didn’t just write chords - he orchestrated them in his head like a musical supercomputer. No human being can do this so naturally, intuitively, and quickly, unless the spirit of God rests upon you and you serve merely as a channel.
Thank you for the privilege of living in your time, Matti. Thank you for the wonder.”
(From a post by Saar David)
"There are moments when it seems that Israeli music pauses and looks back — with the understanding that a circle has closed, that a central chapter in its history has come to an end. Matti Caspi, who passed away yesterday, belongs to a rare, almost mythical group of composers who shaped musical consciousness and laid its foundations."
(From an article by Dudi Patimer)
“Matti Caspi was not just a creator - he was a frequency.
Matti - a friend, a musician, and a person who left a deep mark on our culture without noise and without effort, מתוך musical truth that was quiet and sincere. He was the one who dared to stand against the COVID-era restrictions, refusing to take part in discrimination or prevent unvaccinated people from attending his performances - understanding what many did not.”
(From a post by Liat Cohen Zuckerman)