Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
Pickup currently not available
Description
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Michael Isaacson is a composer whose work draws deeply from Jewish liturgical and cultural traditions. His choral writing combines accessibility with musical substance, creating pieces that resonate in both sacred and secular contexts while remaining singable for volunteer and student ensembles.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the joy of Chanukah without leaning on familiar melodies in expected ways, giving singers something genuinely fresh to interpret. The SATB writing sits comfortably across voices while maintaining enough harmonic interest to keep rehearsals engaging, and the six-page length makes it substantial without overwhelming preparation schedules.
What to expect
Warm and celebratory without veering into saccharine territory. The piece conveys genuine affection for the holiday while maintaining musical sophistication that respects both the text and your singers' intelligence.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking repertoire that honors Jewish tradition without requiring years of specialized training. This works equally well in secular concert settings, interfaith programs, and holiday celebrations where authenticity and singability matter equally.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the text clarity across all four voices; this piece lives on its words, so prioritize diction and consonant definition from the first rehearsal.
Allow the natural phrasing of the Hebrew and English text to shape your tempo choices rather than locking into a metronomic beat.
Consider the acoustic qualities of your performance space when balancing the soprano and alto lines, which often carry the melodic weight.
How to use it
Schedule this for December concerts as either an anchor work or a complement to other seasonal repertoire, particularly in programs that mix secular and sacred selections. Its moderate difficulty sits well alongside larger choral works without demanding excessive rehearsal time relative to its impact.
Skills your students will build
Singing Hebrew text with accurate pronunciation and natural phrasing
Blending English and Hebrew within the same phrase
SATB voice independence in moderate harmonic complexity
Ensemble balance across a six-page work
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
