I Am A Light (For Chanukah): Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Warm and purposeful, with the intimate quality of a song meant for candlelight. The piece honors the holiday's significance while maintaining an accessible, singable melodic line that feels personal rather than ceremonial.

Pianists and singers preparing a Chanukah concert or interfaith holiday program, or music teachers seeking repertoire for student soloists or small ensembles. The lead sheet format makes it equally useful for a classical pianist accompanying a vocalist or a jazz musician interpreting the tune with a rhythm section.

• Treat the melody with clarity and restraint in early run-throughs; the power of this piece lives in its simplicity, not in oversinging the sentiment.
• Establish the harmonic foundation first at the keyboard before bringing in the vocalist, ensuring both parts understand the chord movement and can balance against it.
• Shape the arc across all three pages as one complete thought rather than three separate sections; plan your dynamic trajectory from the opening through the final statement.

Position this as a featured solo or duet in a December concert that mixes traditional and contemporary holiday music. Its three-page length gives it enough substance to anchor a set without overwhelming a program that likely includes other holiday offerings.

• Interpreting lead sheet notation and implied harmony
• Balancing solo melody with harmonic accompaniment
• Phrasing and shaping a contemporary holiday composition
• Accompanying a vocalist with musical sensitivity and support