Composed By: Salamone Rossi

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Voicing: SATTB (the second tenor part is “quinto”)

Keyword Italy, Baroque

Language: Hebrew

Difficulty: moderate

Country: Italy

Solos: none

Instruments: none

Lyrics: Psalm 121

Publisher: Transcontinental

Year Composed/Published: 1622

Timing: 2:15

Tempo: moderate

First Line: shir lama’alot, essa etnia el he-harim (A Song of Ascents. I raise my eyes to the hills. Where is the source of my help?)

description: Salamone Rossi (c. 1570 - c.1630) was a Mantuan violinist and composer in the employ of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga. He was also the first composer to publish a collection of polyphonic motets for the synagogue. The thirty-three motets, set for three to eight voices, include psalms, hymns and prayers for synagogue services or for sacred concerts. Rossi’s setting is similar in style to church music composed by his Christian colleagues. Each verse of Rossi’s setting of “Shir Lama’alot” utilizes a different combination of voices, creating subtly different textures, beautifully expressing the words of the Psalm.