Yet the surge in the bookвЂ™s popularity in medieval times, and the resulting proliferation of musical settings, often revolved around the practice of Marian devotion. Such a reading is supported by similar allegories used elsewhere in both the Old and New Testaments. It is a long tradition: as early as the first half of the first century BC Jewish interpreters understood the book as an allegorical account of GodвЂ™s dealings with Israel Christian commentators from the early Fathers onwards have continued this tradition, seeing it as referring to the relationship between Christ and his Church, or Christ and the Soul. Surely it must have a yet more profound meaning! The most established tradition of interpretation reads the relationship between the lover and his beloved as an allegory for the covenant relationship between God and his people. Above all, it consists in rich expression of the love of one for the other, in all its facets.ДЇor many the literal sense of the book alone has not been considered sufficient grounds to merit its place in the canon of holy writ (in spite of the fact that it contains inspiration and wisdom for many an aspiring couple!). It speaks in colourful and poetic terms of the joys, delights, and the sorrows of their relationship, as well as relating the girlвЂ™s dialogue with the young Israelite girls around her. The beautiful and often erotic poetry tells of the relationship between the lover and his beloved, traditionally thought to be Solomon and a Shulamite girl. What is the Song of Songs? Why is it in the Bible? And why did it gain such popularity amongst Continental composers of polyphony in the sixteenth century? In short, it is a love poem (or perhaps a collection of poems), ascribed to King Solomon, who reigned over Israel between 971 and 931 BC, and after whom the work is sometimes named. This rich selection traces an emotional arc from the intensity of the Flemish masters to the most vivid, madrigialian motets by Vivanco and Victoria. The beautiful and erotic texts of the Song of Songs, a love-poem traditionally attributed to King Solomon, inspired the great composers of the Continental Renaissance to some of their most ardent music. Stile AnticoвЂ™s third recording won the 2009 Gramophone Award for Early Music and reached the top of the US Classical Chart.

Hot song 2009