The Songs Of Solomon, Vol. 1 (Music For The Sabbath)

Released in 2000 by Dorian Recordings, this album features the New York Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Eric Milnes performing the works of Salomone Rossi. Rossi, an Italian Jewish composer active in the early 17th century, is historically significant for being one of the first to publish a collection of choral music for the synagogue set in the contemporary polyphonic style of the Italian Renaissance. His 'Ha-Shirim asher li-Shelomoh' (The Songs of Solomon), originally published in Venice in 1623, represented a groundbreaking synthesis of traditional Hebrew liturgy and sophisticated Western art music.

The 2000 recording was produced to highlight the structural elegance and emotional depth of these settings, which were uniquely crafted for an eight-voice choir. By utilizing period-appropriate performance practices, Milnes and the ensemble aimed to capture the specific soundscape of the Mantuan court where Rossi served. Critics praised the release for its technical clarity and for effectively bridging the gap between historical musicology and accessible listening, solidifying its place as a definitive modern interpretation of Rossi’s sacred legacy.