Cantata ebraica - Grossi, Carlo c.1634-1688; Adler, I. (Tel Aviv Israel music publications, 1965)
Carlo Grossi (c. 1634-1688), an Italian composer, is believed to have been the first composer to use the term "divertimento". He is also known for setting Hebrew religious texts to recitative in the style of Claudio Monteverdi, such as in this Cantata Ebraica in Dialogo, a work commissioned from Grossi (himself a Gentile) by the relatively free and well-off Jewish community of Modena. This work was likely intended for performance by an amateur choir (the choral parts are relatively simple, suggesting deliberate tailoring to the capabilities of less advanced musicians) with professional-standard operatic soloists.
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); Cantata; Choir; Basso continuo; Italy