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Elam Rotem

Elam Rotem is an Israeli composer, singer and harpsichordist who founded and directs the early music ensemble Profeti della Quinta.

born 1984Founding Profeti della QuintaPerforming Salomone Rossi's musicBiblical Hebrew works in early styleThe Putzimputzim comic songs

Born: 29 November 1984, Sdot Yam
Occupation: composer, harpsichordist, singer, musicologist
Education: Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
Founded: Profeti della Quinta (2009)

Elam Rotem was born in 1984 in Sdot Yam

Rotem was born on 29 November 1984 in Sdot Yam. While a student at the Kibbutz Kabri high school, he formed a vocal quintet with classmates. This group later became the international ensemble Profeti della Quinta.

He earned a bachelor's degree in harpsichord at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He then took advanced degrees in basso continuo, improvisation and composition at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. In 2016 he completed a PhD there in a joint program with the University of Würzburg.

Based in Basel, Rotem focuses on Italian music of the 16th and 17th centuries. His ensemble performs the music of the Jewish composer Salomone Rossi. In 2017 the group made the first recording of the Carlo G manuscript, and Rotem published an edition of it.

He composes new works in the style of early 17th-century Italy, set to biblical texts in the original Hebrew. They include Joseph and his Brethren, Quia Amore Langueo and The Lamentation of David. He also runs the Early Music Sources website and a YouTube channel of comic songs called Putzimputzim.