Salamone Rossi Hebreo Mantovano - Siena Ensemble

CRC1202-2

£6.99

Lisette Wesseling & Jennie Cassidy (voices)
Philip Thorby (recorder, harpsichord, viol)
Layil Barr (recorder), Michelene Wandor (viol, recorder, text)
With actor John Shrapnel

An exquisite aural landscape of music by Salamone Rossi, early 17th century Jewish musician from Mantua. A contemporary of Monteverdi, Rossi was one of the pioneers of the trio sonata, the cornerstone of early 17th century soloistic instrumental music. In his thirteen publications, Rossi also set poetry by the established poets of his time (Tasso, Guarini), in madrigals and dramatic vocal trio sonatas. In a unique venture, not paralleled until the 19th century, Salamone Rossi also set 33 Hebrew texts to Italianate polyphony. SIENA ENSEMBLE's unusual and exciting debut CD presents a cross-section of all Rossi's compositions with an evocative text written by Michelene Wandor and performed by actor John Shrapnel.

Track Listing:

[1] Shir ha Ma’alot (1622-23)
[2] Riede la Primavera (1628)
[3] Volo ne’ tuoi begl’occhi (1628)
[4] Ho si nell’alma impresso (1628)
[5] Sinfonia grave (1607)
[6] Gagliarda ‘Narciso’ (1608)
[7] Sonata sopra l’aria di Romanesca (1613)
[8] Non e quest’il ben mio? (1628)
[9] O Dolcezz’amarissime (1614)
[10] Mizmor le’Asaf (1622-23)
[11] Sonata in dialogo detta la Viena (1613)
[12] Sonata sopra l’aria di Ruggiero (1613)
[13] Parlo, misero, o taccio? (1600)
[14] Sonata sopra l’aria di Tordiglione (1622)
[15] Poiche "mori" dicesti (1628)
[16] Ahi, ben ti veggio, ingrata (1628)
[17] Sonata detta la Scatola (1622)
[18] Zeffiro torna (1628)
[19] Messaggier di speranza (1628)
[20] Vo’ fuggir lontan da te (1628)
[21] Kaddish (1622-23)

Total playing time 57:51

Reviews:

"Michelene Wandor's SIENA ENSEMBLE bring Salamone Rossi's music to life"
CD Review, Radio 3 13th April 2002

"The playing and singing is excellent and utterly compelling ... Michelene Wandor takes the unusual step of linking the pieces of music with an extended poem which draws the listener more closely into the experience. The result is both moving and enriching."
Early Music News, June, 2002

"Recordings of this composer's synagogue music have been available for some years, although little or none of the secular music of this 16th-century minor but important Italian Jewish musician has been recorded.
This CD makes amends and gives an indication of the quality and uniqueness of the trio sonatas (which he probably invented) and madrigals for which he was best known in Mantuan court circles.
The programme notes by the ensemble's leader, the writer and musician Michelene Wandor, are informative and the playing and singing authoritative. All in all, well worth exploring."
David Sonin, Ham & High, August, 2002