A Hanukkah Wish Cover Image

A Hanukkah Wish: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$2.05 USD
$2.05 USD
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A Hanukkah Wish Cover Image
A Hanukkah Wish: 2-Part Choral Octavo

A Hanukkah Wish: 2-Part Choral Octavo

With "Maoz Tzur"

Words and music by Andy Beck

Item: 00-41687
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Description
How often do we find a warm ballad written especially for Hanukkah? No boom-chicks here, and no minor key either, just a tender heartfelt message of family and tradition. Incorporates a contemporary setting of the traditional Hebrew "Maoz Tzur" just before a dramatic modulation to the final refrain.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Hanukkah Wish: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081467672
SKU: 00-41687

More about this title

About the Composer: Andy Beck

Andy Beck

Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged more than 450 choral works, vocal resources, and children's musicals for publication. His pedagogical writing includes the widely adopted choral sight-singing resources Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. His compositions are performed by choirs worldwide, a fact confirmed by the steady stream of performances shared online across all age levels and regions.

Beyond his work at Alfred, Beck serves as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for music educators and ensembles throughout North America and internationally. He has conducted honor choirs and all-state groups, often as a commissioned composer, and brings deep experience in musical theatre direction and performance. A tenor with degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, Beck sings with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has been a studio singer for Alfred Music since 1992. His dual commitment to choral artistry and music literacy shapes every publication he shepherds.

Why we love this

This is the warm, singable Hanukkah ballad your choir has been waiting for. Beck sidesteps the temptation toward minor-key melancholy and instead builds something intimate around family and continuity, weaving in a contemporary treatment of "Maoz Tzur" before a well-placed key change that gives the final refrain emotional lift. The 2-part writing is genuinely accessible without sacrificing musical substance.

What to expect

A tender, unhurried reflection on tradition and family. The harmonic language feels contemporary and open, never heavy or somber, with a sense of quiet affection running through every phrase. The dramatic modulation near the end transforms the second verse into something more radiant and affirming than the opening, a musical expression of hope and continuity.

Who it's for

This works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs seeking meaningful Hanukkah or interfaith holiday programming. The 2-part voicing keeps it accessible to younger or less experienced singers without oversimplifying the emotional content or musical architecture.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening phrases with gentle legato; let the warmth of the message come through in sustained vowels rather than crisp articulation.
  • Prepare the modulation carefully in rehearsal so the key change lands as a natural lift rather than a jolt. Mark the pivot chord clearly in scores.
  • Balance the contemporary "Maoz Tzur" setting so the text remains intelligible; this section is the heart of the piece's cultural grounding.
  • If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse with it early and often so students internalize the harmonic movement before performing live.

How to use it

Pair this with other seasonal or sacred works to create a balanced winter concert that speaks to multiple traditions. Because it avoids cliché arrangements and overwrought sentimentality, it can anchor a holiday program without dominating the emotional tone. It's particularly effective when placed after more energetic pieces, allowing the audience to settle into genuine reflection.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining legato lines across phrase boundaries
  • Navigating modulation and maintaining intonation through key changes
  • Balancing ensemble blend in contemporary harmonic settings
  • Handling text painting and emotional expression in narrative-driven choral writing

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