Was the biblical book 'The song of Solomon' written as an actual song, and has it ever been recorded?

Arpeggionist

In Hebrew, the word for song ("shir") is the same as the word for poem. Though in the days of King Solomon the distinction was never made, and anything titled "shir" (the book is titled "shir hashirim" - "the song/poem of songs/poems") was to be recited melodically. Like every other book in the Old Testament, it has cantilation marks - a setting of chant notes which the reader is to apply to the words. In that sense, the book has been set to music and recorded. Parts of the Song of Solomon have been set to music by any number of composers in various languages. In fact, one of the first applications of tonal harmony and counterpoint as musicologists understand it today was a setting of a piece of the Song of Solomon by Thomas Weelkes. Last year I performed in a program consisting entirely of excerpts from that biblical book, with its composers ranging from Palestrina to Yehezkel Braun. These two have set the entire book in their respective languages (Latin and Hebrew). So yes, it has been set to music and recorded. Jan 13 06, 3:14 AM

picqero

Arpeg' - what an excellent answer! I actually had you in mind when I posed the question, but didn't expect such a speedy response. Jan 13 06, 3:17 AM

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