Composed By: Salamone Rossi

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Voicing: SATTB

Language: Aramaic and Hebrew (alternate English text provided)

Difficulty: moderate

Country: Italy

Solos: none (optional quintet)

Instruments: none

Lyrics: liturgy

Publisher: Transcontinental

Year Composed/Published: 1622

Timing: 3:00

Tempo: fast (tempo di balletto)

First Line: yitgadal veyitkadash shemeh rabba

description: Salamone Rossi, a Jewish composer working in the Gonzaga court in Mantua at the beginning of the seventeenth century, composed the only substantial collection of polyphonic music for the synagogue to appear before the nineteenth century. The “Kaddish” (a doxology sanctifying God’s name) is set here in the joyous style of the balletto. Unique among all the motets in this collection, the meter is triple throughout (with hemiolas at the cadences), the texture is largely homophonic, and the form is strophic. To provide some variety, conductors may wish to alternate verses of tutti with verses performed by a solo quintet.