Eight Lights for Hanukkah: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0007055
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
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.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0007055
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged over 450 choral works now in circulation. His output spans sacred and secular repertoire, children's musicals, and foundational vocal resources including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. His compositions reach choirs worldwide, and he regularly appears as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor choirs and all-state ensembles across the United States.
Beck holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University. An accomplished tenor, he performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has served as a studio singer for Alfred Music since 1992. His work as both a composer and educator reflects a sustained commitment to advancing music literacy and choral artistry in schools and communities.
Why we love this
This piece solves a real programming need for directors working with emerging singers. Beck crafts the text around the Hanukkah countdown in a way that feels organic to the melody rather than forced, and the references to "Oy, Khanike" and the "Shalom Chaverim" round add musical depth without overcomplicating the learning curve. The conservative ranges and deliberate phrase lengths mean your choir can perform it confidently within days, making it ideal for holiday concerts where rehearsal time is tight.
What to expect
Tender and communal, with the kind of gentle forward motion that comes from counting something precious one candlelight at a time. The weaving of traditional Hebrew melodies into the texture creates moments of quiet recognition, building toward a reflective close that feels both intimate and reverent.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in choirs that are solidifying foundational two-part singing skills and need warm, accessible repertoire with cultural and spiritual substance. Young middle school choirs, emerging high school ensembles, or community choirs new to part singing will find the manageable ranges and phrase lengths particularly supportive.
How to get the most out of it
- Introduce the "Shalom Chaverim" round separately before putting it into context within the piece; having singers hear the melodic shape on its own builds confidence when they encounter it again in the full arrangement.
- Highlight the textural shift at the hushed ending by backing off volume gradually rather than dropping it suddenly; this invites the audience to lean in rather than jolt them with a dynamic change.
- Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to lock the harmonic foundation, then move to a cappella or piano accompaniment so singers internalize the two-part balance without relying on the full orchestration.
- Mark the interludes that reference "Oy, Khanike" in rehearsal so singers recognize the traditional melody embedded in the accompaniment; this builds their awareness of the cultural connections within the arrangement.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece in a winter concert that celebrates multiple holiday traditions, or use it to open a Hanukkah-themed assembly or community service. The eight-page length and quick-learning design make it suitable for mid-season programming when rehearsal schedules are crowded but the artistic payoff remains significant.
Skills your students will build
- Two-part singing with independent melodic lines
- Phrasing and breath control across longer musical ideas
- Singing in round form and canon-like texture
- Cultural awareness through engagement with traditional Hebrew melodies
- Dynamic control and ensemble balance in soft passages