Light the Menorah

SKU: CF.PAS16

ISBN 9781491143285. UPC: 680160900787. Key: D major.

Two of the most popular of Chanukah tunes are arranged by master string pedagogue Doris Gazda for the youngest of students. Though simple, it give the very young player the chance to sound wonderful at the very first holiday concert.
More than 2000 years ago Israel, the land of the Jewish people, was ruled byGreeks and Syrians. A small group of Jewish people fought to free their country and defeated the big armies of their rulers. The Jews reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to God. To celebrate, they wanted to light the menorah, a candelabrum with a place for nine candles. Each evening they would light the menorah: a single candle the first night, two on the second night and so on until all eight candles were lit. The ninth candle of the menorah was used to light the other candles. However, they found that they had only enough oil to burn the candle for one day. Yet miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days. So to celebrate the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, they commemorated the event with the festival of Chanukah.Children celebrate Chanukah with singing the Chanukah song and with gifts of toys such as dreydls. A dreydl is a little top that is spun by dragging the thumb and one finger across a little spindle.

SKU: CF.CPS232F

ISBN 9781491121290. UPC: 680160677016. 9 x 12 inches.

Eight Nights of Light is a fantastic medley of traditional Chanukah and Jewish tunes arranged for today's middle and high school concert band. This Grade 3.5 arrangement is rooted in my childhood days when my family would gather around the menorah and warm the cold winter nights with singing and inspiration. I originally made this medley for piano and for my own personal use. One day as my colleague Christopher Cicconi and I were discussing our holiday plans, my medley came up in conversation. Christopher asked to see and listen to it. Shortly thereafter, he suggested that this would make a terrific band piece. Immediately, we began work. The vast majority of tunes are traditional, but I introduce a new tune by a contemporary Rabbi who has been very important to me. This arrangement is particularly effective as Chris, who has conducted at the middle, high school and university levels, has a masterful grasp of how the pedagogy works with younger concert bands. --Jonathan Leshnoff.
Eight Nights of Light is a fantastic medley of traditional Chanukah and Jewish tunes arranged for today’s middle and high school concert band. This Grade 3.5 arrangement is rooted in my childhood days when my family would gather around the menorah and warm the cold winter nights with singing and inspiration. I originally made this medley for piano and for my own personal use. One day as my colleague Christopher Cicconi and I were discussing our holiday plans, my medley came up in conversation. Christopher asked to see and listen to it. Shortly thereafter, he suggested that this would make a terrific band piece. Immediately, we began work. The vast majority of tunes are traditional, but I introduce a new tune by a contemporary Rabbi who has been very important to me. This arrangement is particularly effective as Chris, who has conducted at the middle, high school and university levels, has a masterful grasp of how the pedagogy works with younger concert bands.—Jonathan Leshnoff.

SKU: AP.50206

UPC: 038081573762. English.

This warm Hanukkah original counts the menorah candles one by one to commemorate each night of the meaningful holiday. Conservative ranges, manageable phrase lengths, and beginning part singing techniques are designed for quick learning. As a special touch, interludes and counterlines reference the traditional Hebrew song Oy, Khanike, and Shalom Chaverim is sung in a round just before the hushed ending.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.49969

ISBN 9781470662400. UPC: 038081579603. English.

Celebrate the warmth and joy of family and community with Joyous Festival, by Jeanne Vultaggio, an original work for Hanukkah inspired by Klezmer style and depicting a lively celebration. Syncopated rhythms and repetition create a festive folk dance feel accessible to your developing musicians. A slower legato section, offering expressive opportunities, represents the sunset gathering to light the menorah's candles, with a gradually building ascending scale motif in the bells representing the lighting of one additional candle on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. (2:10).